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 they 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.
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 often millionaires. So don't necessarily expect a reply to a letter or card. Some prisons allow stamps or SAEs to be sent in with a letter, but its best to check with the prison in question. Letters do also get stopped, read, delayed, 'diverted'. If you suspect a letter 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 jails don't allow letters in without a return address. Of course it doesn't have to be your address, but be careful about using PO Box numbers as some prisons won't accept that either !
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 upfront 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.
Keep your first letter reasonably short and to the point, its best not to overwhelm people. Also some prisons restrict the size of letters that can be sent in ( 4 sides of A4 has been quoted to me). 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 of talking about their lives, what they are up to, thinking this may depress people banged up for years or that they are not interested in your life. In some cases this may be true, but on the whole a letter is the brightest point of the day for most prisoners. Prison life is dead boring, and any news that livens it up, whether its 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. Use your sense, don't write about anything that is likely to get the prisoner in shit with the screws, or get you or anyone else in trouble with the cops.
For people imprisoned from our movements and struggles, ie strikers, poll tax prisoners, rioters in some cases, members of revolutionary groups; basically politicos, it's vital to keep them involved in the ongoing resistance - telling them about actions, sending them newspapers if they want them, discussing ideas and strategies with them. Use your head though. Some people will not want to hear about the class war, but want to keep their heads down and finish their sentence. 'Politicos' tend to get singled out for attacks by screws, harassment etc.
If you are offering support or to campaign for a prisoner, it is best to be realistic about what you can achieve. To someone serving a long sentence in prison, you can seem like a powerful ray of hope - its important to keep hope alive but not create illusions about you being able to spring them or necessarily 'clear their name'. If a prisoner believes you can do more for them than is possible, it can lead to disillusion and depression if you do not 'come up with the goods'.
At the end of the day, writing to prisoners is about common sense and using your head. Most prisoners are not the mad beasts 'The Sun' would have us believe, they are ordinary people just like you. Prison is there to isolate people, so we must be actively keeping the link to the outside world open. Direct contact via letters is one of the most vital ways of making sure prisoners are not abandoned to the control of the state.