I have recently started writing to two different women in prison. Coincindently both are in Chowchilla Ca. One says that it is all right to send stamps so I send stamps to both and the other says I just about get her in trouble. are there different levels of incariation that allows this? One says that in order to get a picture from her it would cost 75$ is this normal or am I big led on? This is my first time writing to inmate pen pals. Please help and let me know.

Welcome to PTO! I'm glad you found us... You may want to post your questions in the California forum as all of this varies by state and facility....

Deb

To get a picture costs 75 dollars????? I don't think so! Anywhere I know of, the pictures cost only about a dollar each, and it's over-priced at that. Don't send $75 to anyone for a picture! To find out about these things, call the prison mail room to find out what you can send in. I don't know who you'd call to ask about the cost of getting a photo taken, but I can tell you for sure it's not 75 bucks.

Word to the wise... writing 2 people, or more, in a particular facility is the road to insanity and/or cellblock.

Thanks Life2thesequel for the advice but I was upfront with both and told them that I was writing other people. Thanks Also to toi_ama I will call the prison today to find out what I can.

No, $ 75 for a picture is ridiculous! I'd say beware of any woman who hits you up for money right away without getting to know you first. It is only natural if you're going to be in a relationship with someone, at some point you're going to be asked for some support, but not right away! A polaroid of my baby in TX only cost $ 3, but I paid that to the prison, not to her! As for the stamps, there could be differences in 2 inmates' level of incarceration that might cause one of them to get stamps and the other not to. Best to just check with the prison, like others have suggested. Also as suggested, you get the best advice by posting in the state forum where your partner(s) are doing their time. I must say man, I agree with the others. The last time I dated 2 women at once, they both knew about each other too, but it sure didn't last long!!! I was told to choose one and dump the other. Anyway, welcome to the club. You're with the guys who've got a woman on the inside now!!

Thanks Tom called the prison today and as they were laughing they told me it was rediculous to do 75$ for a picture so I will write one last time and let her know it is done thanks for a mans point of view.

Lesson number one learned, almost the hard way, but well learned nonetheless. We're here to help you.

Thanks Goose Bumps actually the other one I'm writing to seems really nice and has not asked for anything I did send some stamps to her to help with the costs of writing me

HI and Welcome to PTO!!! :wave:

Glad to have you here!

mrs. d

Hi everyone I received another letter today from this girl. Telling me to be quick and send her the money before the Oct. 31. So yes I'm sending her the money order. But it will be for 81cents the cost of the three stamps that were on the letters that she sent me. Also asked her not to write again. Thanks for all of the posts.

Take it from someone who has followed the path as far as it can go, finding an girlfriend in prison is not for the faint of heart. I've been pretty lucky with my wife, but we watch the games the other girls play and it's pretty nasty stuff. The number of scams she and I have watched in the past five years are too numerous to name, but basically, keep your guard up about *everything*. Fake or purchased pictures are common, by the way. Your $75 may have been earmarked to pay another girl for her picture.

Writing to guys is big business in womens prisons. A woman in my wife's prison got hit with federal mail fraud charges last year for bilking some guy out of $350,000 for "legal fees" (she's a lifer and never getting out). I've also seen three different guys sign in to visiting as "fiancee" for the same girl over the course of a single weekend. They all send her money, of course.

Do your homework. There are plenty of nice women in prison but *lots* of scam artists.

-R

ps Seems to me a "How not to get ripped off" topic might be a good discussion...

Thanks Catnapped the other girl that I'm writing has not asked for anything and i actually have a good feeling about her. This other one that asked for the 75 was the very first letter and it was not just 75 but 75 for each picture. So i'm writing to the other one solely she get sout in june of 2005 so we can take our time and not rush anything. Thanks tho for your insights.

stick with your search for the right woman, it took me 2 trys to find my soulmate, but now i have found her. best wishes to you. you will find that your love and loyalty to a woman in prison will be returned to you 10x when she gets out. most of these women have never had a loyal man in their lives and they really appreciate it. best of luck tp you.

my girl was in chowchilla and she sent me a pic and all she did was braid someones hair to get uit taken for her so dont let them scam you out of your money some of them are very desperate and have no meens of getting money so they resort to less conventional methods to obtain it , prolly similiar to why they are there in the first place.

r: I LOVE your style!! EIGHTY ONE CENTS..I'm laughing as I write. That is the most appropriate response I've EVER heard. Can I PM you if I need a snappy rejoinder???