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{{Short description|American organization for prisoner rehabilitation}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = WriteAPrisoner.com
| logo = WriteAPrisoner-Logo.gif
| logo_size = 150px
| logo_alt = WriteAPrisoner.com, Inc. logo
| caption = WriteAPrisoner.com, Inc. logo
| type = Online pen-pal and rehabilitation platform
| industry = Criminal justice reform, social connection
| founded = 2000
| founder = Adam Lovell
| headquarters = [[Edgewater, Volusia County, Florida]]
| membership = 17,000 inmate members, 800,000 registered members
| language = Primarily English
| website = {{URL|https://writeaprisoner.com/}}
}}

'''WriteAPrisoner.com''' is an online Florida-based business. The business's goal is to reduce [[recidivism]] through a variety of methods that include positive correspondence with pen pals on the outside, educational opportunities, job placement avenues, resource guides, scholarships for children affected by crime, and advocacy. The site began primarily as a place to post pen-pal profiles and requests for legal assistance for inmates and has evolved to take a more comprehensive approach to addressing the challenges in the life of an inmate.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2010-03-31-os-prison-pen-pals-20100331-story.html |title=Dear Inmate: Do You Need a Friend? |access-date=2010-03-31 |author=Anika Myers |work=Orlando Sentinel |date=31 March 2010 }}</ref> Studies show many inmates have experienced trauma early in their lives that may have been the impetus for the actions that led to incarceration.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Altintas | first1 = M | last2 = Bilici| first2 = M | year = 2018 | title = Evaluation of childhood trauma with respect to criminal behavior, dissociative experiences, adverse family experiences and psychiatric backgrounds among prison inmates. | journal = Comprehensive Psychiatry | volume = 82 | pages = 100–107 | doi = 10.1016/j.comppsych.2017.12.006 | pmid = 29455144 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://dailyfreepress.com/2022/09/19/divine-politik-to-achieve-abolition-we-must-first-forgive/ |title=To achieve abolition, we must first forgive: Divine Politik |access-date=2022-10-03 |agency=Associated Press | work=The Daily Free Press |date=2022-09-19 |author=Caroline McCord}}</ref>

== Background ==

[[File:Christopher Hines and Adam Lovell.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Producer [[Christopher Hines]] and founder [[Adam Lovell]] filming ''E!'s True Hollywood Story'' episode about WriteAPrisoner.com]]

There are approximately 17,000 inmates profiled on the site, most of whom are incarcerated in the United States; however, the site also includes international inmates. Although the site provides no Internet access of any kind to inmates, it has often been called the [[MySpace]] and [[Facebook]] for inmates<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newhavenadvocate.com/featured-news/met-while-incarcerated.html |title=Met While Incarcerated |access-date=2010-10-24 |work=New Haven Advocate}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Presos se relacionam por Facebook carcerario nos EUS|url=http://tecnologia.terra.com.br/noticias/0,,OI4714136-EI12884,00-Presos+se+relacionam+por+Facebook+carcerario+nos+EUA.html |access-date=2010-10-10 |work=Tecnologia}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://onaired.com/2010/10/a-facebook-prison-writeaprisoner-com/ |title=A Facebook Prison, WriteAPrisoner.com |access-date=2010-10-12 |work=News of the World}}</ref> by the media. Because the business is housed online and includes inmate profiles, it has been compared to social media;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2012/3/28/red-phone-life/ |title=The Epic Journey of a Man and his Red Phone |access-date=2012-03-29 |author=John A. Elzinga |publisher=The Harvard Crimson}}</ref> however, most agencies recognize it as promoting traditional pen-pal postal mail because the site provides no mechanism for inmates to access the site online.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wltx.com/news/article/178650/2/SC-Inmates-Connecting-Online-Communicating-Offline |title=SC Inmates Connecting Online, Communicating Offline |access-date=2012-03-29 |author=Sydney Cummins |archive-date=2013-02-09 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130209133020/http://www.wltx.com/news/article/178650/2/SC-Inmates-Connecting-Online-Communicating-Offline |url-status=dead }}</ref> By 2003, the site had about 10,000 [[Web analytics|hits per day]] and presented profiles from inmates in about a dozen countries.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140714223852/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-87307360.html Hoosegow heartthrobs]</ref> Inmates using WriteAPrisoner.com only have access to postal mail. Inmates pay at least $65 per year (with additional options that cost more) to post their profile and photo, which are viewed by the public at no cost. The site encourages writing directly to inmates or sending a first message through its free e-mail forwarding service. The founder of the company is [[Adam Lovell]], author of ''WriteAPrisoner.com's SELF-HELP GUIDE FOR INMATES: Flourishing Through Adversity''.<ref>{{Cite book|isbn=978-0692854785 |title=WriteAPrisoner.com's SELF-HELP GUIDE FOR INMATES: Flourishing Through Adversity |author=Adam Lovell |publisher=WriteAPrisoner.com |date=2017-06-12}}</ref><ref name="Gresko">[https://web.archive.org/web/20140714224334/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-20587537.html Prisons ban inmates from posting ads to attract pen pals]</ref> In 2010 the website received about 2 million page views per month.<ref name="Tillotson">[https://web.archive.org/web/20140714222031/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-224953018.html In the pen, seeking pals; Prisoner-correspondence websites serve as eHarmonies for the incarcerated - and sometimes just friendly contact with the outside world]</ref>

== Media ==
The site received national media attention in July 2003 when [[Susan Smith]], a young mother convicted of killing her children, posted a profile seeking pen-pals, which received 800,000 hits. Smith received more than 6,000 letters in response to her profile.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2003-07-11-susan-smith_x.htm |title=Online personal ad features child killer Susan Smith |access-date=2008-02-03 |agency=Associated Press |publisher=USA Today | date=2003-07-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2003/07/20/serving-life-a-pen-pal-crashes-the-servers/4b9bedeb-5630-4c33-b36b-b6641814d883/ |title=Serving Life, a Pen Pal Crashes the Server |access-date=2008-02-03 |author=Manuel Ruig-Franzia |newspaper=The Washington Post }}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160309075608/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-277596.html Serving Life, a Pen Pal Crashes the Servers]</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160321183421/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-119293154.html Seeking pen pals, inmates establish Net personal ads]</ref> The South Carolina Department of Corrections issued a press release related to the incident.<ref>{{cite web |title=Statement Regarding Inmate Susan Smith SCDC #221487 |url=http://www.doc.sc.gov/PublicInformation/MediaInformation/SusanSmithInformation.htm |access-date=2008-02-03 |publisher=South Carolina Dept. of Corrections |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070214134915/http://www.doc.sc.gov/PublicInformation/MediaInformation/SusanSmithInformation.htm |archive-date = 2007-02-14}}</ref> WriteAPrisoner.com removed the profile at Smith's request.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://writeaprisoner.com/press-release-3 |title=WriteAPrisoner.com Press Release 3 |author=Susan Smith |access-date=2008-02-03 |website=WriteAPrisoner.com}}</ref> The site received some criticism when its spokesperson used the term "freak show" to describe the media coverage of the Susan Smith story.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/site-asks-kid-killer-to-remove-ad/ |title=Site Asks Kid Killer to Remove Ad |access-date=2008-02-03 |agency=Associated Press | work=CBS News | date=2003-07-11}}</ref> The site later issued a press release apologizing and stating that the term had been taken out of context.

The site has been featured on many programs including ''[[20/20 (US television series)|20/20]]''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/2020/US/story?id=1052747&page=1 |title=Why Are Women Marrying Murderers? |access-date=2008-02-03 |work=20/20}}</ref> and ''[[E! True Hollywood Story]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://imdb.com/title/tt0943988/ |title=THS Investigates: Love Behind Bars |access-date=2008-02-03 |author=Documentary|website=[[IMDb]] }}</ref> In March 2006, the site made local news when it posted a profile for Adrian Peeler, who was convicted in the killing of an eight-year-old boy and his mother.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wtnh.com/Global/story.asp?S=4609492&nav=3YeX |title=Web site pulls ad placed by Conn. inmate |access-date=2008-02-04 |agency=Hartford-AP |archive-date=2007-09-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927040708/http://www.wtnh.com/Global/story.asp?S=4609492&nav=3YeX |url-status=dead }}</ref> The site immediately removed Peeler's profile when the story was featured in the ''[[Connecticut Post]]''. The site had also featured a profile for Peeler's brother, Russell Peeler, who was involved in the [[murder]]. His profile was also removed by the site. Several states have placed a ban on inmate penpal sites in response to these issues,<ref name="Gresko" /> which the site founder has stated is a violation of the First Amendment.<ref name="Tillotson" />

On October 28, 2014, [[Lifetime (TV network)|Lifetime]] aired the ''Prison Wives Club'' reality show, which features some couples from WriteAPrisoner.com in the series.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://starcasm.net/archives/289699 |title=Lifetime announces Prison Wives Club: Meet the women and their imprisoned husbands |access-date=2014-11-05 |website=Starcasm.net |date=2014-09-26}}</ref> Artist [[Benjamin Wills]]' popular exhibit ''Airplanes'' at the [[Kansas City Public Library]] featured paper airplanes made by inmates contacted through the site.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://kclibrary.org/signature-events/write-letter-prisoner |title=Write a Letter to a Prisoner |date=30 March 2019 |publisher=The Kansas City Public Library |access-date=2019-03-31 }}</ref> In 2019, [[Netflix]] released a new show, ''Exhibit A'', in which an inmate from WriteAPrisoner.com was featured in the first episode.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.netflix.com/title/80245117 |title=Exhibit A |access-date=2019-07-10 |work=Netflix.com}}</ref> The third and fourth season of [[We TV|WE]] tv's ''Love After Lockup'' also featured inmates from the site.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://starcasm.net/love-after-lockup-season-3-trailers-cast-photos-bios/ |title=Love After Lockup Season 3 trailers, premiere date, cast photos & bios |access-date=2019-07-28 |website=Starcasm.net |date=2019-07-22 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://soapdirt.com/love-after-lockup-season-4-sneak-peek/ |title='Love After Lockup': Season 4 – Sneak Peek and What's in Store? |access-date=2021-05-24 |website=Soapdirt.com |date=2019-07-22 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://people.com/tv/love-after-lockup-meet-the-season-3-couples-supertease/ |title=Love After Lockup Supertease: Meet the Season 3 Couples Who Found Love Behind Bars |access-date=2022-01-20 |website=People.com |date=2021-05-21 }}</ref>

Some controversies involved claims of inmates misleading the public. When the state of [[Missouri]] investigated claims that several dozen female inmates were deceiving male pen pals,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.doc.missouri.gov/newsreleases/NewsRelease_031307.pdf |title=Department to Ban Inmates From Soliciting Pen Pals on Websites |access-date=2008-02-04 |publisher=Missouri Dept. of Corrections}}{{Dead link|date=May 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> the proactive response of the site resulted in a positive response by the public.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/13285710.htm |title=Kansas City |access-date=2010-03-11 |work=Kansas City News }}{{dead link|date=May 2024}}</ref> A study conducted by the [[University of Louisville]] reported that not all inmates on the site accurately reported their crimes or release dates at one point.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uscourts.gov/fedprob/December_2005/personals.html |title=Personal Ads From Prisoners: Do Inmates Tell the Truth about Themselves? |access-date=2008-02-04 |author=Richard Tewksbury |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080313234617/http://www.uscourts.gov/fedprob/December_2005/personals.html |archive-date=March 13, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> However, this study was rebutted by the site.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://writeaprisoner.com/writeaprisonercom-responds-research-paper-regarding-inmates |title=Tewksbury Study Rebuttal |access-date=2011-02-02 |website=WriteAPrisoner.com}}</ref> WriteAPrisoner.com provides a link from each inmate's profile to his or her respective department of corrections website so the public can verify the information. Studies have confirmed the act of maintaining a pen-pal relationship for an inmate has had proven benefits to the inmate's well-being, reform, and recovery from substance abuse.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://phys.org/news/2015-06-reveals-potential-prison-pen-pal.html |title=Study reveals potential value of prison pen pals |access-date=2015-09-28 |author=Lee Page}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://phys.org/news/2015-11-pen-pal-powerful-boost-prisoner.html |title=Pen pal is powerful boost to prisoner wellbeing |access-date=2015-11-09 |author=Nicola Jones}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thefix.com/prison-pen-pals |title=The Recovery Benefits of Being a Prison Pen Pal: How the WriteAPrisoner community helps prisoners feel connected and inspires sobriety |access-date=2016-06-27 |author=Anna James}}</ref> Some inmates have used the website to gain support from the public to help overturn wrongful convictions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://people.com/crime/new-documentary-examines-controversial-conviction-of-san-antonio-four-amidst-satanic-ritual-panic/ |title=New Documentary Examines Controversial Conviction of 'San Antonio Four' Amidst Satanic Ritual Panic |access-date=2016-11-19 |author=Jeff Truesdell}}</ref> Others found freedom through the site after their profiles attracted the attention of attorneys and human rights groups.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/mobile/canada/canadian-with-160-year-prison-sentence-in-u-s-back-in-canada-as-a-free-man-1.3750440 |title=Canadian with 160-year prison sentence in U.S. back in Canada as a free man |access-date=2018-01-08 |author=Ben Cousins|date=2018-01-08 }}</ref>

In 2020, [[TikTok]] users discovered the site, generating more than 65 million views,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://i-d.co/article/tiktok-write-a-prisoner-penpal-jpay/ |last=Fowler |first=Kate |title=Why TikTokers are writing to prisoners |publisher=I-D Magazine |date=2020-08-04 |access-date=2024-05-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806091728/https://i-d.vice.com/amp/en_uk/article/n7wq5g/tiktok-write-a-prisoner-penpal-jpay |archive-date=2020-08-06 |url-status=usurped}}</ref> with the trend continuing.

== Research ==
Universities continue to conduct research surrounding the benefits of inmate correspondence and even participating in letter-writing with inmates. In 2019, [[Duke Law]] hosted a Write A Prisoner letter-writing event as part of the National Lawyers Guild's recognition of the Week Against Mass Incarceration.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://law.duke.edu/events/write-prisoner/ |title=Write A Prisoner |access-date=2019-04-26 |work=Duke Law}}</ref> In 2015, [[University of Warwick]] shared findings of research at the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Festival of Social Science. The study involved prison pen pals in 52 prisons throughout England and Wales and cited numerous mental health benefits to inmates.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/news/pen_pal_is/ |title=Pen pal is powerful boost to prisoner wellbeing |access-date=2019-04-26 |author=Nicola Jones}}</ref> San Diego State University graduate student Tania Mejia-O'Donnell, a 2018-2019 Inamori Fellow, explored inmates' pen pal experiences through WriteaPrisoner.com.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://newscenter.sdsu.edu/sdsu_newscenter/news_story.aspx?sid=77565 |title=SDSU Students Named Inamori Fellows |access-date=2019-05-15 |author=Lainie Fraser|date=20 March 2019 }}</ref>

== Legal ==
The [[United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit]] has upheld inmates' right to receive e-mail printouts from online pen pals.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/police-blotter-prison-inmate-wants-personal-ad-replies/ |title=Police blotter: Prison inmate wants personal ad replies |access-date=2021-05-24 |author=Declan McCullagh}}</ref> The [[United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit]] also found that inmates have the constitutional right to seek pen pals through websites.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F3/364/1148/533024/|title=Frank S. Clement vs. California Dept. of Corrections |access-date=2021-05-24 |publisher=U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Court}}</ref> An [[Arizona]] law that barred inmates from posting profiles on WriteAPrisoner.com and similar websites was struck down after the [[ACLU]] challenged it in court.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hawaiireporter.com/story.aspx?6584b268-6a33-4ad5-9b0d-eb17113eb5d5 |title=Arizona Prison Ban Struck Down |access-date=2008-02-04 |author=Nicholas M. Horrock |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070808143558/http://www.hawaiireporter.com/story.aspx?6584b268-6a33-4ad5-9b0d-eb17113eb5d5 |archive-date = August 8, 2007}}</ref> In considering legislation which would prohibit inmates from utilizing social media such as Facebook, officials in South Carolina made a point to exclude WriteAPrisoner.com from the bill, citing WriteAPrisoner.com's vetting process of inmates' information and the fact that it does not provide a mechanism for Internet contact for inmates.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wltx.com/news/article/178650/2/SC-Inmates-Connecting-Online-Communicating-Offline |title=SC Inmates Connecting Online, Communicating Offline |access-date=2012-03-18 |author=Sydney Cummins |archive-date=2013-02-09 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130209133020/http://www.wltx.com/news/article/178650/2/SC-Inmates-Connecting-Online-Communicating-Offline |url-status=dead }}</ref> While WriteAPrisoner.com does not allow inmates any form of actual Internet contact, many prisons now have services such as [[Corrlinks]], which allows inmates monitored email access for a fee.

According to the site, the goal is to work with states' departments of corrections to ensure that the First Amendment rights of inmates are protected. The site has previously collaborated with the ACLU and the [[Florida Justice Institute]] regarding rights of inmates<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.nola.com/topnews/2007/05/web_sites_promoting_liaisons_w/print.html |title=Web sites promoting liaisons with prisoners abound |access-date=2008-02-04 |author=G. Scheet |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071214172708/http://blog.nola.com/topnews/2007/05/web_sites_promoting_liaisons_w/print.html |archive-date=2007-12-14 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and has been represented by the Florida Justice Institute.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fdrag.org/newsletters/may04.html |title=Pen pal ads nixed in Florida |access-date=2008-02-04 |author=Mark Thompson |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040919095436/http://www.fdrag.org/newsletters/may04.html |archive-date=2004-09-19 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The site's stated policy includes a [[zero-tolerance]] approach towards [[scams]] committed by inmates as well as scams committed against inmates.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://writeaprisoner.com/precautionary-measures-taken-writeaprisonercom |title=Precautionary Measures Taken by WriteAPrisoner.com |access-date=2008-02-05 |website=WriteAPrisoner.com}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{Reflist|2}}

== References ==
*{{cite book |last=Goulart |first=Frances Sheridan |title=One Good Work at a Time: Simple Things You Can Do to Make a Difference |year=2006 |publisher=Sorin Books |location=Notre Dame, Indiana |isbn=978-1-893732-90-2 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/onegoodworkattim00goul }}

== External links ==
* [https://writeaprisoner.com/ WriteAPrisoner.com]

{{Incarceration}}

[[Category:Internet properties established in 2000]]
[[Category:Social media companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Privately held companies based in Florida]]
[[Category:Prison-related organizations]]

WriteAPrisoner.com - Revision history

imported>Wapfiles: Added missing info box content