Death Row Support Project

Guidelines for Writing

Here are some tips to help you begin a successful friendship and correspondence:

1. It can be surprisingly easy to find common ground with those in prison if you let go of any preconceptions or stereotypes you may have.
2. In your first letter, explain why you are interested in writing to someone on death row. Mention that you received the person’s name from the Death Row Support Project (DRSP). If there is a letter from the prisoner enclosed, there may be things in it to which you can respond.
   1. Introduce yourself, describing your interests, your family, your work, and where you live.
   2. Feel free to ask questions about prison life, about the person’s interests, where s/he is from, whether s/he has any appeals in progress, etc.
   3. Do not ask right away about the person’s crime, but let him/her volunteer that information.
   4. Asking questions provides the other writer something to which they can respond, but do not ask too many at once — especially in the first letter. Let trust build between you, and always try to share as much about yourself as you ask the other person to share.
3. Include your full name and address on the outside of the envelope (front top left corner), as some prisons will not allow mail to be delivered to prisoners without this information.
4. If you want to send things like books, stamps, stationery, or food, ask first whether the person wants them, whether they will be allowed to enter the prison, and how they should be sent. Regulations vary from prison to prison, and therefore DRSP is unable to provide that information. MANY PRISONS DO NOT ALLOW STAMPS TO BE SENT IN. ASK FIRST!
5. Requests for money are not uncommon, as prisoners often receive very little support, and those on death row are not allowed to have jobs. Never feel obliged to fulfill such requests, but do respond honestly and set realistic expectations. If you decide to send money, be sure to find out in what form it should be sent, and if you need to be on a special list to send it.
6. You may want to visit this person in addition to writing. That would be great! Through the Death Row Support Project, we hope to encourage visiting, active concern for the person’s court case, support for the family where needed, and any other helpful efforts. Be sure to ask him or her if s/he wants you to visit, and what the hours and restrictions are. Visitors are often required to undergo background checks and be pre-approved by the Department of Corrections. Again, the rules vary from prison to prison.
7. If you do not receive a reply within one month, please try writing again. Sometimes mail gets lost, or a situation arises that may prevent the prisoner from responding immediately. If you do not receive a reply after two or three attempts, please contact us.

To help with the coordination of the Death Row Support Project, please note the following:

1. The person whose letter is enclosed has been told that he will receive at least one letter per month for one year from someone. If for any reason you decide you do not want to write after all, PLEASE let us know immediately so that we can give the information to someone else.
2. If in the future, you find that you are unable to continue corresponding, TELL US. We can then reassign the person. Also, please send us a change of address if you move. And if you want to write to an additional person, let us know. We will gladly oblige!
3. Please keep in touch. Positive or negative, we welcome all feedback, and will check in occasionally to find out how things are going. If you have questions, problems, or joys to share, please write, call or e-mail us (drsp@brethren.org or 260-982-7480).
4. Contributions for the work of DRSP are needed and welcome, in the form of stamps and money. Checks should be made payable to “Church of the Brethren.” THANK YOU!