I think I posted this in the wrong place before.

My question is: are the federal prisons now verifying the physical
address that goes with a po box that appears as a return address
on an inmate's letter? And are they giving that information to the inmate?

My sister always places her po box on letters to a pen-pal and
he has now come back to her and asked her to confirm that
she lives at an address where she indeed does live. I tend to
believe he got it from someone who works at a post office
(albeit, not legally), and not from the federal prison because I
doubt they would give him that address.

Anyone know for sure please? I am about to call Washington to
inquire but prefer to hear it from someone here with FIRST hand knowledge.

Thanks in advance.

I don't think the BOP would even have time to verify ownership of P.O. boxes. He probably got someone on the outside to simply do a Google search or even look in a local phone directory.

Why would a prison need to verify a PO Box vs Street address for letters unless they believe something shady is going on? Farther more...why would they share this information with an inmate?

Something doesn't sound right about this. And he doesn't sound very intelligent at that.

Didn't you put this in another forum and ppl were getting back to you and you wouldn't answer them? Sorry if I am wrong

NO bookieworm. I am desperate and did not know for sure where to put this post. It was moved twice and removed from other places. I have heard from no one in email.

He first told my sister: "your physical address is documented here by your po box". Then he told her, I can't tell you how I got it.

My sister uses several pseudonyms and does not own her home, nor is it in her last name. Her phone is not in her last name either, but then again only a phone number is needed to be entered to get an address. Perhaps he has someone that works at the phone company and got the physical address that way. I am going to have to call the prison itself although this guy might get in trouble and I wouldn't want to do that so close to his getting out. I might attempt to get him to give ME the information, just so I have peace of mind that no one else is getting her physical address either.

The only people that would be able to obtain access to such info is law enforcement and it's not as if they can simply call up the PO and get the info. There is a specific process that involves at least some paperwork. There are many web sites that you can do reverse lookups on phone numbers, even cell phones if you are willing to pay so it wouldn't necessarily take someone at the phone company to provide the info.

FrustratedGirl, my sincerest thanks to you for your feedback.
I should know more when I speak with my sister and I will
try to be there with her if and when he calls again.

I have alwasy used my po box with out any problems.

Didn't you put this in another forum and ppl were getting back to you and you wouldn't answer them? Sorry if I am wrong

YES bookieworm2000, it was. The original post is in 911 Emergencies. Actually, it was still there this morning.

I have just gone over there after thinking it had been moved. I received several emails advising my posts had been moved and it confused me as to where the post with the responses was located. I have now gone to Emergencies 911 and responded to everyone. Thanks for the heads up too!

Why would a prison need to verify a PO Box vs Street address for letters unless they believe something shady is going on? Farther more...why would they share this information with an inmate?

Something doesn't sound right about this. And he doesn't sound very intelligent at that.
I found it very peculiar too. I have posted over on Emergencies 911, so you can see the explanation there. Don't want to take up more bandwith with the same information. :-)

Did your sister recently fill out a visiting form? If my memory serves me correct, you are required to put your physical address on the form as well. There is also a part on the visiting form which asks you if you want that information disclosed to the inmate. I wrote an emphatic NO and he still received a copy of my visiting form and therefore had my physical address. I was hotter than fish grease about that:angry: I DID NOT want him to know where I lived.

LJ

Hi Tia4Two: No. She has not only never visited him, but since he went in,
she has never been in the same state as he has been while serving time.
Strictly phone and very limited correspondence. :-)

As a practical matter, she should write him back and tell him, no - the address he has is NOT correct - if she doesn't want him to know where she lives. Just a suggestion. Z.

As a practical matter, she should write him back and tell him, no - the address he has is NOT correct - if she doesn't want him to know where she lives. Just a suggestion. Z.

Thank you Zelda. When he told her the address on the phone, she immediately advised that it belonged to a family member, one of whom is a police officer. The latter is true, by the way. There IS someone in the home in law enforcement.