Write to someone getting ready to come home from prison.
4,724 people taking our Ready for Reentry course in prison have asked for support as they plan their return: help finding work, feedback on their reentry plan, or a conversation with someone from a faith group.
- No special skills needed
- Free online training
Marshall, Byron and David after Byron’s first church service
People in prisons nationwide are working on their reentry plans. Your letters of encouragement can change a life, for good.
From Edovo course data, updated . See how many people are coming home to your area
What a Correspondence Partner does
You write to someone inside who is creating a reentry plan to help them succeed after release. Your words can have a more positive impact than you can imagine.
- Use the prison’s approved mail or messaging app.
- Share everyday news and ask easy questions.
- Time
- Once a week
- Training
- Online, about 2 hours
- Background check
- Required before we match you, at your own cost
How it works
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Step 1
Sign up
Tell us a little about yourself. It takes about two minutes.
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Step 2
We review it
A person on our team reads every sign-up and gets back to you if it’s a good fit.
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Step 3
Get trained
Take our free online orientation and Correspondence Partner training.
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Step 4
Start writing
After your background check, we match you with someone inside who has requested support.
You won’t do this alone. Our team trains you and answers your questions.
Questions people ask
Who can volunteer?
Adults 18 and older who can write regularly. Prisons have their own rules for letters, and we’ll tell you what applies before you start.
Do I need experience?
No. You’ll take a short training first. Kindness and follow-through matter most.
Do you run background checks?
Yes. We run a background check on every volunteer before we match them with a program participant. The volunteer pays for the check.
Do I have to be religious?
No. Many of our volunteers come from churches, but you can volunteer either way.
How soon will I start writing?
After your training and background check, we match you when someone inside asks for letters. We can’t promise a date.
Is it safe?
Letters go through the prison’s approved mail or messaging system, and staff may read them. Training covers privacy, healthy limits, and what to do if something doesn’t feel right.
I’ve been to prison or jail. Can I volunteer?
Yes, you can sign up. Many of the speakers in our course have been to prison themselves. Some prisons limit who can write to people inside, and we’ll go over what applies to you.
Does it cost anything?
Training is free. You pay for your background check, and some prison messaging apps charge a small fee per message. The training explains how that works.
Where do you work?
Anywhere in the U.S. You can write from any state.
Correspondence Partner sign-up
Someone is getting ready to come home.
Write to them while they get ready.
Not ready to sign up yet?
- Meet us on Zoom. Calls are the first and third Thursdays at 6 PM Pacific.
- Give a gift to help people coming home from prison.
- Ask us a question.
Embraced:Fully is a fiscally sponsored program of The Principle Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
Become a Correspondence Partner
Thank you!
We sent you an email. We’ll read your sign-up and, if it’s a good fit, invite you to our free volunteer orientation on ReentryPartnership.org.
While you wait, join our monthly Zoom calls. Get the Zoom invitations
Know someone who would help too? Send them embracedfully.org/volunteer.
