Frequently Asked Questions
Can I send photos?
Yes. Photos may be included with your letters on both the Unlimited and Debit Plans at no extra cost. Photos are restricted to 30 per month, per inmate. They are printed on the same paper as the letter, in color (good quality), and count as one page. Photos may not depict nudity or gang related material, and must otherwise conform to the rules of the receiving institution.
How many pages can I send at once?
You may send up to 8 pages at a time, front and back.
Can inmates open their own account from prison?
Inmates cannot open their own account. Someone in the “free world” has to open an account online, then add the inmate as a penpal.
What's the difference between a Yapwrite Debit Account and the Yapwrite Subscription plan?
When you create a Debit Account at Yapwrite you are required to deposit ten dollars ($10.00 USD). Each time Yapwrite prints or emails a letter between you and your penpal, one dollar ($1.00 USD) is deducted from the account.
When you subscribe to Yapwrite’s monthly Unlimited Plan you can send and receive unlimited letters with your penpal.
Can anyone send my penpal mail if they have the email address?
Inmate emails are only active with the account holder. When you open an account and add an inmate, we assign the inmate their own email address. This email address may only be used with by person who opened the account. If someone else tries to send mail to the inmate email it will be regarded as spam and not processed.
Do I need to login to send and receive mail?
Nope!
Once you open a Yapwrite account and add your penpal, the rest is all done by email. We give each inmate their own unique email address that only works with your account. Save it to your contacts and treat it like you would any other email. There is no need to login again unless you need to contact us or edit your penpal information.
What happens if my penpal moves?
Just drop us a line and let us know! You can email us at mail@yapwrite.com, or send us a chat through the website. The inmate can also tell us themselves.
Most prisons forward mail if an inmate has been shipped to another location, but it can take several weeks to catch up. It’s best to let us know as soon as you find out so your penpal doesn’t miss any letters!
How do I get Started?
After creating an account on the website you must read and accept the Terms of Service a select a PayPal option (Debit Account or Subscription). Once you have selected a payment plan, you will be directed to the Penpal form. Fill out the information on the form and hit “Submit”.
That’s it! Check your inbox for your penpal’s new email address and start writing!