Adopt a prisoner
If you're active in a group or campaign
why not choose one or two prisoners to consistently support. Pass cards
round meetings, send useful stuff, knock up a flyposter and get their
case some publicity if they could use it, get in touch with the
prisoner's support group if there is one. Of course you can take this
on as an individual, too.
Writing to prisoners/sending things
Prison is isolation, so contact with the outside world,
letting a prisoner know s/he is not forgotten, helps break this down.
Sometimes just a friendly card can boost their morale. For example, we
received a letter from Herman Wallace, after sending him a card from
the group. He said,
" It is quite essential
that I take out a moment to express my gratitude to all the wonderful
folk who sent me so much love & support in this one card. I am
really touched by the intensity of energy from this card and I just had
to stand up from my seat and smile. Thank you. Right now, in spite of
my repressive condition you guys have made me feel GREAT!"
Writing for the first time to a complete stranger can be
awkward. A card with some well wishes, a bit about who you are and
asking what you can do to help is often enough. Don't expect prisoners
to write back. Sometimes, the number of letters they can receive/write
is restricted, or they just might not be very good a writing back. To
help, include a couple of stamps or, if writing abroad, International
Reply Coupons (IRC's) that you can get from any post office. Write on
clean paper and don't re-use envelopes. Remember a return address, also
on the envelope. Ask what the prisoner can have sent to them, as this
varies from prison to prison. Books and pamphlets usually have to be
sent from a recognised distributor/bookshop/publisher (ask at a
friendly bookshop). Tapes, videos, writing pads, zines, toiletries and
postal orders are some of the things you might be able to send.
Some advice on writing to prisoners
One of the main problems that puts people
off getting involved in supporting prisoners is a feeling of being
intimidated about writing to a prisoner for the first time. It is very
hard to write a letter to someone you don't know: people find that they
don't know what to say, they feel there are things they can't talk
about, or think that prisoners won't be interested in what they have to
say. Well this is a problem most of us have had to get over, so we've
drawn up some suggestions to help you. Obviously these aren't rigid
guidelines, and we don't pretend to have solved all problems here.
Different people will write different letters. hopefully they will be
of some use though.
First things first
Some prisons restrict the number of letters a prisoner can
write or receive, and they may have to buy stamps and envelopes: and
prisoners aren't millionaires. So don't necessarily expect a reply to a
card or letter. A lot of prisons allow stamps or an s.a.e to be
included with a card or letter, but some don't. Letters do also get
stopped, read, delayed, 'diverted'. If you suspect has been or will be
nicked by the screws, you can send it Recorded Delivery, which
unfortunately costs a lot but then they have to open it in the
prisoner's presence. Also you should put a return address, not just so
the prisoner can reply (!), but also because some prisons don't allow
letters without a return address. Of course it doesn't have to be your
address, but be careful using PO box numbers as some prisons don't
allow these either!
Writing for the first time
Say who you are, and if it's relevant that you're from such
and such a group. Some people reckon it's better to be up front about
your politics as well, to give prisoners the choice to stay in contact
with you or not. Say where you heard about them and their case. The
first letter can be reasonably short, maybe only a postcard. Obviously
when you get to know people better you'll have more to talk about. If
you are writing to a "framed" prisoner, and you believe them to be
innocent, it helps to say so, as it gives people confidence to know
that you believe them.Some people when they write to prisoners, are
afraid to talking about their lives, what they are up to, thinking this
may depress people banged up, especially prisoners with long sentences,
or that they are not interested in your life. Although in some cases
this may be true, on the whole a letter is the highpoint of the day for
most prisoners. prison life is dead boring, and any news that livens it
up, whether it's about people they know or not, is generally welcome.
Especially if you didn't know them before they went to prison, they
want to know about you, what your life is like etc. For people
imprisoned from our movements and struggles it's vital to keep them
involved in the ongoing resistance - telling them about actions,
sending them magazines if they want them, discussing ideas and
strategies with them. Use your head though. Some people will just want
to keep their head down till they get out.
Remember that all letters are opened and looked through so
don't write stuff that could endanger anyone - this doesn't mean you
should be over paranoid and write one meaningless comment on the
weather after the other. Be prepared to share a bit of your life to
brighten up someone's on the inside.
Protest letters
Petitioning Tony Blair asking him to stop being a capitalist
bastard might well be futile. But writing letters to relevant places
requesting something realistic such as an appeal, transfer, vegan food
etc on behalf of a prisoner can help improve their chances. Prisoners
who seem to be 'in the public eye' do tend to be treated better.
Other support
There is so much more than can be done, up to you and your
imagination and your contact with a prisoner, such as: publicity for
the case, visits, financial support, pickets of prisons.