Tips for the families of prisoners
60% of Americans have a family or friend, currently locked up in a U.S. prison.
Here are some informative tips every family of a prisoner should know.
1. Nothing can be more depressing for a prisoner than recieving no mail from his or her family. You'd be surprised how much positive energy one letter every other week can bring into a prisoners life. Positive energy is important for the mental well being of a prisoner locked up in negative environment . So take the time to write your loved one a brief letter.
Books
2. There are thousands of men and women currently locked up in a prison Administration Segregation. If a prisoners life is in danger, or gets into trouble they are placed into Administration Segregation. The cells are tiny and there is no social contact so many prisoners go insane being locked up 23 hours a day. Books and newspapers serve as prisoners mental escape and can make a huge difference. Order a book for your loved one every now and then.
Report Abusive Guards
3. Another struggle prisoners face while in prison is abusive guards. While most guards are decent, some are sadist. It is common to find a few bad apples taking advantage of a prisoners vulnerabilities. The most effective measure you can take in preventing prisoner abuse is reporting it to the warden. A prisoner has no power in doing this since the warden rarely, if ever, takes the time to read a prisoners complaints, but a family phone call is like a silver bullet. Your phone call is a mighty weapon so use it.
Parole Attorney
4. Though not a guarantee, a parole attorney might help get your loved one out on parole sooner. But before you go on spending your money in hiring one, make sure your loved one is maintaining a clean disciplinary record in prison. A bad prison record on an inmate makes it nearly impossible to parole.
Families Coping w/Stress
5.Not only do prisoners suffer in prison, but their families agonize from worry and shame. Hearing people constantly critisize prisoners is like a stab in the heart to families listening to it. If you are currently going through this remember that you are not alone. There are thousands of families in your situation. Also keep in mind that with the current rate of incarceration the same people who critisize you, might soon find out what it feels like to be the mother, father , sister or brother of a prisoner
