Frequently Asked Questions

This is the Department of Corrections number. You must include this next to the prisoner's name when writing them or the letter will not be delivered.

Many facilities use JPay, CorrLinks, GTL, or Securus. You’ll need their ID; messages may cost per “stamp.” Features vary by prison. Many will list on their personal ad if they have access to these services.

Yes, inmates are generally allowed to make phone calls. Calls are usually restricted to those on an approved list of contacts, and are monitored. Length and cost of calls vary by location, it is always best to check the specific institution's policies.

Most facilities allow a small number of photos. Polaroid photos are not allowed. Avoid nudes, or gang signs. Print on standard photo or plain paper. Verify the facility’s policy first.

The rules regarding what prisoners can receive depend on the specific institution's policies. In general, inmates cannot receive gifts or stamps directly from friends and family due to security concerns. Some facilities will allow you to send items such as books, calendars, and art supplies from approved vendors only. It is always best to check the specific institution's policies.

Only via approved channels (e.g., JPay/commissary). Never send cash or personal checks by mail. You are not obligated to send money, in fact, we highly advise against it.

It could be a transfer, missing ID number, or a rule violation (stickers, perfume, etc.). Check the inmate locator if they've moved to a new facility and resend in plain paper with full return address.

Anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. Delays happen due to mail screening, lockdowns, transfers, or limited access to stamps. Be patient and consistent.

Transfers happen. If a letter returns, use the DOC inmate locator for the new facility. After release, continue only if you both want to.

Yes, however you may want to mention to your new pen pal that the cost of postal mail will be higher.

Yes, if you don't they will not be able to write you back. Also, believe it or not there are some states that take the envelope and only give the inmate the letter, or a photocopy of the letter. So to be safe, put your return address on the letter itself as well.

Yes

There is no limit! Pick as many as you can be a good pen pal to. The only requirement is you have to be 18 or older. I recommend that you write several to increase your chances of success in finding someone you enjoy writing.

Several states allow you look up this information. You can go to https://www.meet-an-inmate.com/locator/index.html to start your search

Be honest with them. You only have one chance to make a first impression. Most of these prison inmates are in need of friends and contact outside of prison. Receiving a letter is a very positive experience for them. Just be yourself. Many of these inmates will not respond if you do not show them some respect or if you send sexually explicit letters.

$40/year for a standard ad.
$70/year for featured ad.
To order a webpage for an inmate, click here

Featured ads are designed to get more traffic to the ad. There is an extra page called featured. Only featured ads are on there. Also, on every age group page the featured ads are always listed above the standard ads designed of course to get more traffic than a standard ad.

Yes - you can submit and pay for an ad. Please go to https://www.meet-an-inmate.com/application.htm for instructions.

We do not send out notices to renew. It is best to renew before the expiration. If you wait until it is expired, the ad may already be deleted from our files and you would have to place a new ad. You can renew the ad at https://www.meet-an-inmate.com/application.htm.

Yes, the fee is $5/photo, please email meetaninmate.com@gmail.com to request these changes.

Yes, there is a $10 fee to rewrite the profile, please email meetaninmate.com@gmail.com to request these changes.

No. Once we go to the expense of building the webpage there will be no refunds.

Yes, you can email us to request that we send the inmate an application at meetaninmate.com@gmail.com

Yes, they may request an application by mailing us at:

Meet-An-Inmate.com
Arlen Bischke
P.O. Box 845
Winchester, Oregon 97495

Usually within one to five days of receiving a prisoner's ad.

The definition of a pen pal is a person with whom one keeps up an exchange of letters via USPS, usually with someone so far away that a personal meeting is unlikely. So by definition Meet-An-Inmate.com is not a dating site. Sometimes people do actually meet and consider a relationship but that is not the purpose of the site.

Only the inmate can request that their ad be removed. This must be in writing and postmarked from the prison. The person that paid for the ad can make changes to the ad. There may be a fee. Anyone can advise us of an address change or obvious error on the page if we can verify it.

Yes. We have decided starting in 2023 to accept all applications regardless of crime. However, we reserve the right to decline an application if we see fit.

No, offender-to-offender correspondence is typically prohibited; check the facility’s policy.

You must be over the age of 18 to use this service.

Meet-An-Inmate.com
Arlen Bischke
P.O. Box 845
Winchester, Oregon 97495
Email Address: meetaninmate.com@gmail.com

Yes

Caution must always be used when dealing with inmates.

Yes, we do as we are dealing with convicted felons. The disclaimer states: We (meet-an-inmate.com) accept no responsibility for the accuracy of any content found within these pages. The appropriate safeguards should be used in communicating with any person(s) that you may meet through this service. By using this service, you agree to not hold us responsible for any costs, liabilities, attorney's fees, or damages that you may incur. The ads placed on our service are written by the inmates and we are only the means by which their ads are published. To use this service, you must be at least 18 years of age.

In 1998, I decided to start a web site dedicated to getting mail for prisoners. My daughter saw an ad in the personals section of a local advertiser under the classification meet-a-mate, which gave us the idea for the name meet-an-inmate.com.