Frequently Asked Questions

A prison pen pal is someone who corresponds with an incarcerated person through letters or a facility-approved digital service. People may write for friendship, encouragement, shared interests, or meaningful conversation. Both people should respect personal boundaries and the rules of the correctional facility.

Read How to Write to an Inmate for practical correspondence guidance.

LockedIn Letters helps adults discover reviewed inmate profiles. Visitors can browse approved public profile information, select someone they may want to write, and create a free writer account to access the complete approved profile and correspondence information.

Writers communicate directly through USPS or a messaging provider approved by the correctional facility. LockedIn Letters does not carry private correspondence.

Visit Write Someone Today to see the process.

No. LockedIn Letters is an independent prison pen-pal profile platform. It is not affiliated with a Department of Corrections, correctional facility, JPay, Securus, ViaPath/GettingOut, CorrLinks, or another correspondence provider.

LockedIn Letters does not control facility rules, provider availability, mail screening, delivery, or access to correspondence services.

Browse the current profile directory and review the approved public information for each participant. Look for shared interests and correspondence preferences that match the type of connection you are comfortable beginning.

When you are ready, follow the steps on Write Someone Today.

Public profile information may include the participant’s approved display name, age, current incarceration state, public preview, interests or tags, primary profile photograph, and public profile URL.

A free writer account is required to view complete approved profile stories, correspondence information, and any additional photographs designated for registered writers. Registration requires email verification, a self-reported date of birth, and confirmation that the writer is at least 18.

Email verification confirms access to the submitted email address. LockedIn Letters does not independently verify every writer’s identity or age through government identification. Age information is self-reported, and false information may result in account suspension.

Review Prison Pen Pal Safety before sharing personal information or beginning correspondence.

Writers communicate directly through USPS or a messaging provider approved by the participant’s correctional facility. Provider availability and features vary by facility and must be confirmed through the responsible correctional agency or provider.

LockedIn Letters does not carry, forward, deliver, or monitor private correspondence between writers and participants.

Read How to Write to an Inmate or visit Write Someone Today for the next steps.

The First-Letter Help guide explains how to introduce yourself, personalize a message using approved profile information, ask thoughtful questions, and close the letter naturally.

The guide teaches a flexible structure rather than requiring one rigid script.

No. LockedIn Letters provides profile visibility but cannot guarantee correspondence, replies, friendship, or any particular outcome.

An incarcerated adult using approved outside assistance, a family member or friend, or authorized staff may submit an application.

The incarcerated participant must authorize the final wording, photographs, and publication before a profile is posted. Submission does not guarantee approval or publication.

Review the requirements on Apply to List an Inmate Profile.

Yes. Applying is free. Payment is not collected merely for submitting an application.

If a paid profile is accepted, payment is required after acceptance and before profile writing assistance and profile preparation begin. Review the current Pricing or begin an application.

No. Every application is reviewed for eligibility, authorization, profile information, photographs, facility information, policy compliance, and other applicable requirements. Applying does not guarantee approval or publication.

LockedIn Letters may request clarification or corrections. A profile is not published unless the application is accepted and the participant approves the final wording and photographs.

Review the application requirements on List a Profile.

Three Founding Free spaces remain reserved for previously confirmed participants and are closed to new public applicants. Founding Pilot is closed to new applications. Previously accepted participants retain their approved terms.

The Standard Profile is $15 for one year and the Enhanced Profile is $45 for one year. Both are available now. Optional visibility add-ons are priced separately.

Applying is free. When payment applies, it is required after acceptance and before profile writing assistance and profile preparation begin.

Review current Pricing or visit List a Profile.

LockedIn Letters reviews the submitted profile information, eligibility, authorization, photographs, facility information, and compliance with current policies. New profiles and material changes are checked against available official records as part of the review process.

The participant must approve the final wording and photographs before publication. This review supports profile accuracy but is not a comprehensive background investigation or a guarantee of identity, honesty, safety, correspondence, or future conduct.

Review the application requirements on List a Profile.

LockedIn Letters can organize questionnaire answers into a profile introduction or improve a submitted draft while preserving the participant’s meaning and voice.

Writing assistance does not authorize LockedIn Letters to invent interests, preferences, personal history, relationship goals, or other information. The participant must approve the final wording before publication.

Learn more through List a Profile.

Up to three photographs may be submitted for review. The submitter must have permission to provide them, and photo permission must be confirmed before publication.

Photographs remain subject to review and participant approval. See the application requirements on List a Profile.

An accepted Founding Free or Founding Pilot profile may remain active for up to one year. Standard and Enhanced Profiles remain active for one year and do not renew automatically.

A Rotation Boost lasts 30 days, and an exclusive Homepage Takeover lasts 72 hours. A profile may be removed earlier because of a participant request, safety concern, policy violation, expiration, or another valid reason.

Review current terms and Pricing.

Eligible Standard profiles with an active Rotation Boost and Enhanced profiles enter one shared homepage pool. Each homepage visit selects the eligible profile shown least recently so visibility continues circulating instead of repeatedly favoring the same profiles. Rotation Boost does not add priority or extra turns, and it is unavailable while active Enhanced rotation eligibility already applies.

The site records each homepage feature, and past-seven-day impression totals help track rotation activity. Review Pricing for current eligibility and add-on details.

An approved profile may receive the exclusive main homepage banner for 72 hours through the existing private add-on process. Access is limited to the private, profile-specific add-on link sent to the original submitter associated with the approved profile.

The fair-chance Rotation Pool does not stop during a takeover. A smaller rotating feature remains on the homepage so other eligible profiles continue receiving visibility.

Review the current Homepage Takeover information under Pricing.

The public counter combines views across all profiles. To reduce repeated refreshing from inflating the total, LockedIn Letters counts one view per browser and profile each day.

Individual profile activity is available only to the site owner and is not displayed publicly for each participant.

Choose the response that fits the situation. You may set a boundary, stop responding, block or report an account through the correspondence provider, contact the correctional facility, notify a financial institution, or report suspected fraud or threatening conduct to the appropriate authority.

For an immediate threat or emergency, contact local emergency services or law enforcement. Reporting something to LockedIn Letters does not replace reporting it to the facility, provider, financial institution, postal authority, law enforcement, or another responsible organization.

Read Prison Pen Pal Safety. Concerns involving a LockedIn Letters profile may be emailed to support@lockedinletters.com. Review the Complaint and Concern Process before sending sensitive information.

Email support@lockedinletters.com and include the participant’s name, the requested action, what happened, any useful dates or supporting information, and enough information for the request to be reviewed.

Do not email passwords, payment-card numbers, government identification documents, or unnecessary sensitive information. LockedIn Letters may request clarification or reasonable identity confirmation and may correct, hold, or remove a profile when appropriate. A report does not guarantee a particular response time, investigation, removal, or outcome.

Review the Complaint and Concern Process and Safety guidance.