Sending a book to an inmate

[s.elena]

Hi!

I've been doing quite a lot of research on death row for my thesis lately and found this forum. I don't personally know anyone on the row though have been considering to getting a pen pal or a few.

Anyway, what I wanted to ask you, is whether you think it is ok to send books to some of the inmates who have exhausted their appeals, even though I haven't communicated with them before? I would just like to do something small for them.

Secondly, have I understood correctly that the books need to be ordered and send through an approved publisher/Amazon etc, so that they will not be returned?

Thank you

[mooshy]

You are correct...books need to be ordered through approved sites. I always used Barnes & Noble.

Sending a random book would be ok as, to be honest, the guys will use them to trade if they don't want them. It would not be such a good thing to do if you don't seriously want a new penpal because it is possible that your first contact will be interpreted as an offer of support and friendship.

I think I'd recommend you read around some of the row and pen pal threads on this site before you contact inmates directly. Your thesis is an important part of your life but for these guys the row IS their life and an offer of friendship for research may not be good for them. Befriending and earning the trust of someone on the row takes a lot of patience and effort as well as heartache alongside the joy. It really needs some serious consideration - though if you go for it wholeheartedly it'll change the way you look at everything. Good luck.