When the holiday lights are shining brightly and people are glowing with spirit, life behind bars can feel a little dimmer. The incarcerated miss their families a little more. Sometimes a lot more. Their friends. The freedom to take a stroll to see the neighborhood houses decked out. Homecooked meals. All of it.
A letter may seem like a thing of the past. But it’s powerful. Even outside of the holidays, it can cheer up those behind bars. During the holidays, it can be magical. A token of hope.
Human connection through words is more powerful than you think. That is why Last Prisoner Project started a letter writing program for those incarcerated for non-violent cannabis crimes. And you can participate.
You can be their connection to the outside world. A little bit of cheer. A little bit of hope that they need. Especially during the holidays.
How to Write a Letter to Constituents
There are two ways to write a letter: snail mail or online.
First, choose your pen pal here.
Physical Letter
- Use a plain white envelope and a postage stamp—nothing else on the envelope
- Include your pen pal’s full name and six-digit ID#, institution name, and address
- Write your full name and return address on the envelope
- Do not write anything that you wouldn’t feel comfortable with the DOC staff reading
- Do not include drawings or markings that may be interpreted as secret codes
Write a Letter Online
- Copy your pen pal’s full name and six-digit ID#
- Do not write anything that you wouldn’t feel comfortable with the DOC staff reading
- Do not include anything that may be interpreted as secret codes
- Fill out the form here and hit submit
What Should I Write?
My advice? Keep it simple. Hopeful. And be open to making a good friend out of this.
Introduce yourself. Tell them what you do for a living. And maybe even why you decided to write the letter.
Ditch ChatGPT and write from the heart.
You can mention some of your hobbies. What’s going on in your life. The latest movie you’ve seen. A song that inspired you. Anything to make a connection. That’s what writing is about—making a connection.
Also, you can tell them that we’re out here fighting for them. For their freedom. Ask if they have a petition that you can share. Let them know that there is still hope. There’s always hope. Taking a page from Superman himself, Christopher Reeve:
“And as far as false hope, there is no such thing. There is only hope.”
Share Last Prisoner Project Letter Drive
There are many ways to share this letter drive. Here are some of the top ways to do so:
Share it on LinkedIn and tag https://www.linkedin.com/company/last-prisoner-project/
Share it on Instagram and tag https://www.instagram.com/lastprisonerproject/
Share it on Facebook and tag https://www.facebook.com/lastprisonerproject
Download LPP social media graphics here.
You can also share your experience in connecting with one of the constituents on social media. Provide some advice on writing a letter based on your experience. And maybe even give tips on topics to write about.
Have more questions about the Last Prisoner Project Letter Drive? Click here.
