By Kim Haskins

Penfriends are wanted to support many of the 3000 men and women currently waiting on Death Row in the US.

Across 38 US states, over 3,000 people are facing the death penalty. Many will have to spend several years - typically over a decade - before they are given an execution date. In some cases, several dates will be suggested before a final one is decided; in fact, this can even come within hours of execution.

Living under the sentence of death inevitably causes an immense amount of stress and anxiety, which can sometimes lead to more serious mental health problems. What's more, a number of those who arrive on Death Row already have mental illnesses or learning disabilities, and it's often argued that many have not received competent legal representation.

Another contentious issue regarding the welfare of individuals on Death Row is that of the living conditions. According to The Death Penalty Information Center, inmates "are generally isolated from other prisoners, excluded from prison educational and employment programs, and sharply restricted in terms of visitation and exercise, spending as much as 23 hours a day alone in their cells."

Human Writes

If you're over 18 and think you could offer much-needed friendship, support and a permanent commitment to writing to a prisoner on Death Row, you could get involved with Human Writes. This not-for-profit humanitarian organisation encourages UK volunteers to befriend and support those facing execution in the US by writing letters directly to inmates.

Human Writes is against the death penalty, although it isn't a campaigning or political group. In fact, it's open to volunteers from all walks of life and beliefs, but applicants are screened to ensure they're committed to writing, as well as to protect those on Death Row from those who are, in the words of the organisation's website, "in search of excitement, drama or game-play".

Why write to Death Row?

Human Writes believes that a penfriend relationship can make a huge difference to the quality of life of a prisoner; some of those on Death Row have told the organisation that letters from their UK penfriend are their 'sunshine' or 'window on the world'. Meanwhile, the relationship can be extremely rewarding and eye-opening for the penfriend too.

Is it right for you?

Firstly, it's essential to seriously consider whether you can commit to befriending someone on Death Row. For example, it's important to bear in mind that the pressures of life facing the death penalty are likely to be a world away from anything you've experienced yourself. What's more, prisoners can already feel extremely isolated, especially if they've been disowned by their family and friends. As a result, a prisoner can feel very upset if a penfriend suddenly stops writing.

Get the ball rolling

To start the friendship, you'll be given a prisoner's contact details and then it's up to you to send a letter of introduction. From then on, you can write as often as you like, but you must be able to maintain a friendly, compassionate and open-minded approach to letter-writing.

While volunteers and prisoners will be matched like-with-like as much as possible, you can contact your prison co-ordinator with any queries or concerns that arise during your relationship. Many co-ordinators have counselling qualifications and experience with dealing with those on Death Row, and they'll be able to offer any support and guidance you require, including if your friend gets executed.

Co-ordinators can also advise you on the regulations regarding Death Row in the state you're writing to, as well as guidelines regarding the kind of items you're permitted to post to inmates. For example, you may be allowed to send a money order for a small sum to your friend so that they can purchase certain 'luxury' goods from the prison shop such as stationery or toiletries.

Membership

When you join Human Writes, your membership fees will simply be used to cover central costs (the organisation is self-supporting and all staff members are volunteers). You'll also receive regular newsletters which will keep you up-to-date with news about the state where your penfriend is incarcerated, plus articles by members and extracts of prisoners' art and writing. You'll receive two newsletters at a time; one for you and one to send to your penfriend. In addition, you'll be able to attend occasional conferences and listen to guest speakers on capital punishment, as well as meet people who have been released from Death Row and fellow letter-writers.

What the prisoners say

"I love watching the world go by through your eyes."

"Just between you and me, the best Christmas present I'll get this year is your friendship."

"I had received several penpal offers and I threw them away. But when I received yours something clicked. I don't know what, maybe because it was from England."

What the volunteers say

"We've both got a lot of happiness from writing to each other as well as sadness when he has obviously been very down and depressed. He has always said that my letters do make a big difference to him, and if he is feeling low I always manage to make him smile."

"I know that if I had stopped sending postcards to my penfriend during his 10-month silence I would have fulfilled his expectations, but since I didn't, he realised my sincerity and finally wrote back to explain that my persistence had given him new faith in humanity and a renewed desire to live."

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