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.
Download: Writing To Prisoners Leaflet
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.