These letters came to Speak Up over the course of two years, sent from within the New York State prison system.

DEAR SPEAK UP,

Hello. How is the Speak Up family doing? I miss you, and I’m sorry. I’m in the New York State Prison in Mid-State Correctional Facility.

I have two years more years to go. Please keep me in your prayers.

YOUR OLD FRIEND,
FRANKLIN

DEAR SPEAK UP,

Remember that notebook I filled with my writings? I want that to become a book. Can Speak Up publish it when I get out?

Tell everyone that prison is bad. The time I’ve been here, people try to rape me and call me all kind of names like “faggot” and “you’re gay” and “we hate you” and “we hate people like you.”

I’m hurting right now. Sometimes I feel like killing myself, but I don’t. The only thing keeping me alive is Jesus.

PRAY FOR ME,
FRANKLIN

DEAR SPEAK UP,

You have some good people that are in prison for the wrong choices. But people don’t see this. People think about the bad things that they done, and think they are just bad.

My parents taught me right from wrong. I got A’s and B’s (and some C’s and D’s) in school. When I was seventeen I saw my friends having fun and smoking and coming in late. I wanted the same things they were doing, so I ran away and went to New York to try the street life. Drugs, drinking and sex and messed up my life for 25 years.

I’M BEING HONEST,
FRANKLIN

DEAR SPEAK UP,

I’m in prison for the choice I chose to make at the time.

I chose wrong and not right. I was in New York City visiting someone and I ran out of money. Instead of asking someone for $60 so I could get on the bus back home, I went into someone’s apartment and stole money.

That choice sent me to prison for five years.

REGRETFUL,
FRANKLIN

DEAR SPEAK UP,

We lost another inmate this weekend. A female officer was provoking this inmate, and he got tired of it and threw a blanket over her head. The other inmates tried to stop him, but things got heated. Some officers came in and took out the inmate and beat him to death.

So another inmate is dead this year.

Speak Up family, please keep all of us in your prayers.

AFRAID,
FRANKLIN

DEAR SPEAK UP,

I was just told by the doctor I have leukemia, and I may have five years to live. But I know God has me in His care, and I’ll trust God. The doctor said I have been battling leukemia for two years now.

I guess it runs in my family. My mother died from it. But I’m okay. Just need a lot of love and people to write me so I will not worry about my cancer.

Please ask someone to send me soap and candy and chips and cookies. Most people don’t have the time for us prisoners but maybe someone reading this will help me.

I’M VERY LONELY,
FRANKLIN

DEAR SPEAK UP,

Please don’t forget about me.

Jesus said, “When I was in prison, you came to me or you sent me the things I need like money or food, like candy and cookies, and chips and soap.” And you said to Jesus, ‘When have I done this to you?’ And Jesus will say, ‘When you took care of Franklin, you did it to me, Jesus.’”

YOUR OLD FRIEND,
FRANKLIN

Update: The author of these letters has been released and is safe and well. He is no longer facing homelessness and his life is more stable than it had been for many years.

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Would you like to write to someone in prison?

The connection that comes from receiving letters of encouragement can be a powerful force for restoration. Here are two possible avenues for you to explore.

Prison Writers
These raw personal essays are all penned by incarcerated writers thanks to the grassroots nonprofit Prison Writers. At the end of each piece is a mailing address for the author. If you choose to correspond, please be sure to include the inmate’s Department of Corrections Number.

Write A Prisoner
Currently incarcerated prisoners pay money to list their profiles on the Write a Prisoner site with the hope of finding a pen pal. Readers may write any inmate of their choice.

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