I am a volunteer who brings my experience with recovery from addiction into the Maine and Cumberland County correctional systems in an effort, with many others like me, to help inmates know that life without addictive substances can be meaningful.

I have been doing this for many years and know that my efforts, as well as the efforts of others with the same affliction, have had some success.

Because I serve as a speaker at these groups within the prison walls, I am not allowed to have any contact with inmates whom I’ve come to know, other than within the meetings. These restrictions include visiting, letter-writing and telephoning.

I understand and accept the reasons for these restrictions. However, there are clearinghouses through various helping organizations where qualified people can request being matched up for pen pal-type correspondence.

I understand that manipulative practices can occur on either end or both ends by the correspondents in a relationship of this nature, but I believe it is worth the risk, especially since the letters, in both directions, can be monitored and edited.

It is my firm belief that a truly caring person on the “outside” who can stay in touch with a person on the “inside” will make a huge difference in the life of the person with whom they’ve been allowed to remain in touch.

Bruce Erwin Johnson

Portland

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