Below are links to BoyzBehindBars.com's most frequently asked
questions. Simply click on the linked questions 1 through 26:
- What is BoyzBehindBars.com?
- Why use BoyzBehindBars.com?
- Are these inmates for real?
- How do I know the photo is real?
- What if I'm not 18, can I still write a prisoner?
- Can I e-mail an inmate?
- Can inmates make or receive phone calls?
- How often do you list new prisoner ads?
- What is the number you have listed next to every
prisoners' name?
- Can I send prisoners gifts such as stamps, stationary,
etc.?
- Do you have any suggestions for writing my first letter
to a prisoner?
- Are there any precautions I should take when writing a
prisoner?
- I don't live in the US. Can I still contact an inmate?
- I know someone in prison, can I submit an ad on his behalf?
- Can I keep from giving my real address until I get to know him?
- I don't have a credit card. Can I still order a BoyzBehindBars.com membership?
- I wrote a prisoner on your website, but the letter was
returned to me. Why did this happen?
- Can you list prisoners on your website from outside the
United States?
- What is the Processing Fee for?
- Are there rules about sending photos and other things?
- Do you have the addresses for the prisons?
- What is a D.O.C. or Register Number?
- Do I need to be worried about scams when writing to inmates?
- How many inmates can I write to?
- Can I make changes to or request an inmate's ad be removed?
- Can you list minors on your site?
1. What is BoyzBehindBars.com?
Boyz Behind Bars is a professional service that hosts personal ads, along with pictures and profiles,
for men incarcerated in prisons all over America. The inmates featured on this site are looking for love, marriage,
pen pals, and good, solid relationships with men and women in the free world. Many of them have been abandoned by
their friends and families and they desire contact with the outside world. These inmates do not have access to
the Internet and their only point of contact with the outside world is by postal mail.
Our mission is to bring people together with an opportunity to enhance their lives. Boyz Behind Bars makes available
the postal addresses of any of its registered members for a small fee.
Inmates are in desperate need of friends on the outside, and need the kind words of both men and women just to
keep them going on a daily basis. These men often lead very lonely lives. We implore you to reach out and
touch the lives of these men.
2. Why use BoyzBehindBars.com?
There are other penpal services out there. Why use BoyzBehindBars.com?
- Convenience - Don't wait for Snail Mail or faxes. Our system will give you access to all the inmate addresses in our database the instant payment is accepted!
- Cost - Most other services of this type charge you $7.00 per address no matter how many you choose. With our subscription based billing system, we give you access to our entire inmate database for one low monthly fee.
Make an inmate's life a little brighter. Write to them and ease their loneliness. They'll thank you for it.
3. Are these inmates for real?
Absolutely. These inmates have completed an ad-posting request form specifically for our service. Every one is signed and dated by the inmate. They have expressed their desire to find people like you to write to, talk to, and form relationships with.
4. How do I know the photo is real?
In most cases, the inmate sends an actual, physical photograph with their signup form. We scan it, place it online with their ad, and mail the photo back to the inmate. Like all matchmaking services, there's always the possibility that the photo is of someone else, but in an inmate's case, the likelyhood a photo submitted with an ad request is fake is rare. They do not have access to computers for altering photographs, they cannot find photos on the Internet and pass them off as photos of themselves. The photos are usually poloroids taken at the prison, or ones they've carried with them for awhile. In some cases, the photo is out of date by a year or two, but this is perfectly understandable and it's still a picture of the person posting the ad.
We don't accept ads without a photo.
Some prisons also make photos of their inmates available online. If an inmate doesn't have a photo, and we know that their prison provides this service, we will seek out that photo and carefully confirm the information given by the inmate with the information online to ensure we have the right person.
5. What if I'm not 18, can I still write a prisoner?
No. You must be at least 18 years of age. If
you are under 18, please EXIT now.
6. Can I e-mail an inmate?
No. Inmates are not allowed access to the Internet, nor an e-mail address. The only way to communicate with them is through postal mail. Also, once you've contacted them, they can usually call you by phone during certain times of the day.
We now offer E-mail Forwarding services! This service will allow you to write to an inmate and send the letter by e-mail to Boyz Behind Bars. We will then print your e-mail, address the envelope to the inmate, and mail it for you. The intent of this service is to provide convenience for people who prefer e-mail -- and don't like licking stamps.
7. Can inmates make or receive phone calls?
In many institutions, inmates are allowed to make long-distance phone calls. They are collect calls, but are more expensive than regular collect calls. The additional cost is usually a fee added by the prison to cover the cost of prison recreational and educational programs. Calls are usually limited to about 10 to 30 minutes. You should be cautious in giving out your phone number, as it can become expensive.
8. How often do you list new prisoner ads?
Ads are being listed weekly. The average time to post new ads is 7-10 working days.
9. What is the number you have listed next to every prisoners' name?
This is the Department of Corrections number. You
must include this next to the prisoner's name when writing to them. Institutions
assign numbers to all inmates.
10. Can I send prisoners gifts such as stamps, stationary,
etc.?
If the prisoner doesn't specify in his ad, write
and ask before sending any items. Most of them will be thrilled just to hear
their name at mail call. Institution rules regarding mail vary from prison to prison.
11. Do you have any suggestions for writing my first letter to
a prisoner?
Yes, we do have a few suggestions for
establishing a lasting friendship. Please read our
Tips For
Writing Prison Pen Pals.
12. Are there any precautions I should take when writing a
prisoner?
We recommend using a P.O. Box when
writing. In most cities, P.O. boxes are usually around $10.00
annually.The same precaution should be taken with anyone
you don't know. Please see our
Disclaimer for any questions
as to our policies for using this service.
13. I don't live in the US. Can I still contact an inmate?
Most certainly. As long as you have a valid Mastercard, Visa, JCB or Discover credit card, or can send a money order that is valid in the United States, you can get an inmate's address and send them postal mail.
14. I know someone in prison, can I submit an ad on his behalf?
Yes. Be sure to include the inmates's full name and Department of Corrections number, photograph, and
a statement consisting of 200 words or less explaining something about the inmate and what he is looking for in a mate.
15. Can I keep from giving my real address until I get to know him?
Yes, we now offer Mail Forwarding services. Just order a membership to BoyzBehindBars.com, then sign up for our Mail Forwarding service. When you write to the inmates, use your name and our mailing address. We will forward any letters from the inmates on to you as soon as we receive them.
If you've paid for a certain number of Mail Forwards, and you exceed that limit, we will e-mail you to let you know. You may then sign up for more Mail Forwards at your convenience.
We hold any letters received while you're over your limit for 30 days. If you sign up for additional Mail Forwards during this time, the letters will immediately be sent on to you once payment for the service is accepted.
16. I don't have a credit card. Can I still order a BoyzBehindBars.com membership?
We recently added the option to pay your $9.95 membership fee by money order, cashier's check, or personal check. The process is slightly different, print and complete the Membership by Mail form and return it by postal mail to BoyzBehindBars.com, Attn: Membership Services Dept., 15480 Annapolis Road, Suite 202-261, Bowie, MD 20715. Your username and password will be validated when your payment is received and the funds have cleared the bank. You will receive a confirmation e-mail when your account is ready to use. You may also charge your membership fee to your home telephone number. The current fee for 900 Telephone Billing is $12.95 for 30 day access. Click here and you will be redirected to ccBill LLC, our online transaction processor, to sign up for membership billed to your home phone and receive instant access upon approval.
17. I wrote a prisoner on your website but the letter was
returned to me. Why did this happen?
First, check the address for errors. If everything is
correct the prisoner may have changed locations or been released without informing us.
Send us the Prisoner's name,
address and the reason the letter is said to have been rejected. We'll attempt
to reach them and let you know why the letter was returned.
18. Can you list prisoners on your website from outside the United States?
No. BoyzBehindBars.com currently list inmate personal ads from a state or federal prison in the United States only.
19. What is the Processing Fee for?
BoyzBehindBars.com provides services to connect inmates with those on the outside. We incur postage, computer network, and administrative costs, the processing fees cover our expenses in providing these and other inmate services.
20. Are there rules about sending photos and other things?
Photos are generally acceptable so long as you are properly clothed. For you that are more daring, a tip — some facilities deny anything with too much skin. Georgia has recently banned biker magazines because of the scantily-clad women (and it's fairly tame as far as that goes). Polaroids are generally refused because of the small pouch for the developing chemicals.
Photos or pictures depicting cartoon characters engaged in sexual acts are not permitted at most prisons.
When something in an envelope is deemed 'contraband,' the whole envelope is refused and sent back or trashed. Some institutions make the inmate pay to have it sent back (and throw it away if the inmate can't pay).
Perishable items are generally refused, as is most anything else of use to the inmate. Inmates are required to purchase most necessities through the facility's Commissary.
Books and magazines usually must be sent directly from a publisher or commercial business. Even newspaper clippings can be refused if the facility considers it harmful to the security of the facility (and their guidelines don't always make sense). Sometimes printouts of Internet websites and information from the Internet are refused.
If you do choose to send money to an inmate, check with the inmate first. Every state has their own rules and sometimes these rules are directly opposite those in other states. Some allow money only from immediate family members; others don't have any restrictions at all.
Some institutions insist on postal money orders and some only personal checks. We again suggest you check with the inmate to determine his institution's policy regarding sending photos, money and other miscellaeous items.
21. Do you have the addresses for the prisons?
When you purchase a membership to BoyzBehindBars.com, the member area contains a list that includes the inmates full name and D.O.C. (or Federal Register) number, and the institution's mailing address.
22. What is a D.O.C. or Register Number?
The D.O.C. (or 'Register Number' for federal inmates) is listed beside each inmate's name in the member area. It is the Department of Corrections number. You must include this next to the prisoner's name when writing them or the letter will not be delivered.
23. Do I need to be worried about scams when writing to inmates?
Caution must always be used when dealing with criminals.
The most common problems services like ours have encountered are Understating their age or Lying about their race. If we discover proof that either of these things have been misrepresented, their ad will immediately be removed from our system.
24. How many inmates can I write to?
There is no limit! Pick as many as you want, and have the time to be a good penpal to. The only requirement is you have to be 18 or older.
25. Can I make changes to or request an inmate's ad be removed?
No. All changes made to an ad or requests to remove an ad must come directly from the inmate who placed the ad.
If you discover proof that the inmate misrepresented their age or race, however, let us know immediately! We will remove their ad from the system.
26. Can you list minors on your site?
No. You must be at least 18 years of age to place an ad on our site.
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