writing to a prisoner

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#1
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Tacks's picture
Tacks
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Oct 23 2006 10:39
writing to a prisoner

to my shame, i haven't had the bottle to do this yet.

I think i will, but i'll need a few pointers:

Obviously don't discuss their case. But what CAN you say? If you were writing to someone who had burnt down some SUVs, youn definitely could not say 'nice one for what you did' (this an example, i am not writing to any nutters like this).

But, say you weren't mentioning their conviction, but sent them material about similar stuff - wouldn't that be just as bad? If u sent an ALF prisoner some action update with 'we burned down the lab and piched all the chickens' thats surely going to make them look guilty?

Is it ok to send them political stuff - i mean CW and Resistance and Organise are all free to prisoners, but would it not harm their case to get anarchist stuff in the post?

Is it ok to keep your own ID to urself? Can you have a return address as a PO box not a home address?

Will the police tey and find out who you are cos you are writing to the person? I'd be highly wary of writing to ELF prisoners if i was in the US.

I know i have more questions but these will do to start.

(i've said it one, but i'll say it again - i am using ALF and ELF as hypothetical prisoners, i'm not thinking of wring to them).

#2
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the button's picture
the button
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Oct 23 2006 11:32

I think this covers most of the issues you raised, e.g. about what you can send, etc.

http://www.brightonabc.org.uk/action.htm

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JDMF's picture
JDMF
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Oct 23 2006 11:37

I write to ELF and ALF prisoners from time to time and most of the time just some quite harmless banter. It doesnt always have to be full on political rant and stuff.

And if you have been putting it off for a while, just get a bunch of free postcards and start from that. Letters feel like they have to be long and stuff and then in the end you end up not sending anything grin

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Tacks's picture
Tacks
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Oct 23 2006 11:39

yeah, postcards! you genius! smile

ta.

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Joseph Kay's picture
Joseph Kay
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Oct 23 2006 12:11

but *NOT* ones that say 'wish you were here?' for chrissakes wink

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Jason Cortez
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Oct 23 2006 15:11

Actually, i'm sure that from some of the postcards i have seen (and places i've been), it might be tough decision (or at least a flip of a coin) which place is perferable.

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Steven.'s picture
Steven.
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Oct 23 2006 16:48

we've got some tips here, any additions welcome!
http://libcom.org/organise/prisoner-support-guide

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Tacks's picture
Tacks
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Oct 23 2006 16:58

oh, are there any lists of WP prisoners on the net? Would be great to send them abuse.*

In 'porno' (the inferior but fun sequal to Trainspotting) it is revealsed that Sick Boy has been sending Begbie gay porn in prison for years.

* by which we mean, er... something else.

#9
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Coconut man
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Oct 25 2006 03:23

Obviously don't mention any illegal activity in your letter, whether it was by them or you. It's just common sense. If you are sending something to prisoners it will be checked by the prison staff. Sending updates about non-illegal actions would be fine.

Unless you are writing to a prisoner in an extremely repressive country, then sending political stuff shouldn't be a problem. I send prisoners copies of Now or Never! all the time. Even prisoners are entitled to their own political opinions. Anyway, they cant help it if someone sends them a radical publication.

When I write to prisoners I always use the Norwich Anarchists PO Box as the return address, but I don't think it's that essential. I would recomend using a PO box, but a home address should be fine if you don't have access to one (just don't write to anyone you're not too sure about).

I'm not sure about the question about the police, but stay clear of anything illegal in your letter and you should be fine. Writing to prisoners is not a crime.

#10
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mrsmaintenance's picture
mrsmaintenance
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Oct 26 2006 14:09

I've been wanting to write to prisoners who are in for marijuana offenses, particularly female ones. Basically I want to say, "I'm sorry you are a victim of these repressive laws, and you have many allies on the outside."

#11
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Ramona's picture
Ramona
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Oct 26 2006 14:41

Another list of prisoners here

http://www.jfw.org.uk/CURRENT.HTM

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Tacks's picture
Tacks
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Oct 26 2006 14:59
mrsmaintenance wrote:
I've been wanting to write to prisoners who are in for marijuana offenses, particularly female ones. Basically I want to say, "I'm sorry you are a victim of these repressive laws, and you have many allies on the outside."

yes i can understand that - is there a list of marijuana prisoners kept by the legalisation lobby then?

#13
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mrsmaintenance's picture
mrsmaintenance
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Oct 26 2006 16:46

In Indiana you can look up prisoners by offense on the Department Of Correction website.

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revol68's picture
revol68
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Oct 26 2006 16:51

I've been searching that website for hours and yet I still can't find someone doing time for a "Substandard Impression of a Guy Richie Gangster", saying that I have found one guy doing a stretch for "Crimes against Fashion".

#15
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Tacks's picture
Tacks
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Oct 27 2006 10:56

what were they wearing, an afi t shirt grin

#16
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Tacks's picture
Tacks
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Oct 27 2006 10:57
mrsmaintenance wrote:
In Indiana you can look up prisoners by offense on the Department Of Correction website.

fuck thats terrible! So ANYONE can access the crimes database? Or just records of ppl in prison?