Frequently Asked Questions

WriteACon is a prison pen-pal directory. People who are incarcerated publish a profile; anyone can browse the directory for free, read profiles, and reach out by letter or — where a profile has a texting number — by text from their own phone.

Yes. Browsing and searching the directory is free and does not require an account. Registering your phone to text is also free. The only paid part of the service is listing a profile.

Profiles are written by the people in them or by a family member on their behalf, and each one is reviewed before it is published. Listings expire automatically, so what you see is current. We cannot vouch for anyone's character, so please read the safety guidelines before you write.

Some profiles show an 'Accepts texts' badge. Those pen pals have a texting number through a facility-approved messaging service. Register your phone with us once, reveal the number on their profile, and text from your regular cell phone like any other contact. Messages pass through our service, so your own number is never shown to them.

Text numbers are only shown to verified phones so they cannot be scraped or spammed, and so facilities can trust the traffic. Registration is a one-time code sent to your phone and is free.

Registering your phone is free and texting uses your normal phone plan. Revealing a text number may use reveal credits depending on the profile; any cost is shown before you confirm.

Not every facility supports texting. For those profiles, write a letter to the mailing address shown on the profile.

Use the mailing address on the profile, and put the person's full name and registration number on the envelope exactly as shown. Facilities reject mail that is missing either. Keep to plain paper and ink; most facilities refuse stickers, glitter, polaroids and anything stapled.

We recommend a P.O. Box or a mail-receiving service for return mail, at least until you know someone well. Our safety guidelines explain why.

A family member or friend can create the profile on their behalf, or the person can arrange it through you. A one-time listing fee keeps the profile live for 12 months; we review it before it goes up. Contact us if you need help getting started.

A listing is a one-time $49.99 for 12 months. It is non-refundable once the profile is published.

Favorites and saved searches are part of the free member account, which is launching soon. Until then, bookmark the profile page in your browser.

Use the contact page and we will get back to you, usually within 24–48 hours.