About WriteACon

Why we built this

Incarceration cuts people off from almost everything, but it does not have to cut them off from everyone. Decades of correspondence programs show the same thing: a steady pen pal makes the time easier to do, keeps people connected to the world they will return to, and lowers the odds they come back. WriteACon exists to make that first connection easy to find.

We are a directory first. People inside (or a family member on their behalf) publish a profile — a photo, a few paragraphs in their own words, and how to reach them. People outside browse it for free, read, and decide whom to write to. That is the whole idea.

How it works

Browsing is free and needs no account. When you find someone, you can write to the mailing address on their profile, or — where they have a texting number — register your phone with us (also free) and text them from your regular cell phone. Your number is never shown to them. See How It Works for the step-by-step.

Listing a profile is the only paid part of the service: a one-time fee keeps a profile live for twelve months. That fee is what funds the review process and keeps browsing free for everyone else.

What we are not

WriteACon is an independent service. We are not affiliated with any federal, state or local correctional agency, and we do not control facility mail rules or phone policies. We cannot vouch for anyone's character — profiles are written by the people in them. Please read our safety guidelines before you write to anyone.

Get in touch

Questions about a listing, a technical problem, or something that doesn't look right? Contact us — we read everything.