Project Director: Marlies Talay, marlies@solitarywatch.org.

On an average day in the United States, more than 120,000 people live in solitary confinement in prisons and jails. Individuals in solitary confinement spend 22 to 24 hours a day locked in small, often windowless cells, without human contact and usually without work, education, or programming of any kind. This type of isolation and sensory deprivation has been shown to cause extreme anguish and, in many cases, lasting psychological damage to those who endure it. It has also been identified by the United Nations as a form of torture.

As part of Solitary Watch’s work, we have always reached out to people in solitary with updates, letters, and cards, reminding them that they have not been forgotten by the world outside their cells. We call this project Lifelines to Solitary.

In 2015, we expanded Lifelines to Solitary to include the first prison correspondence program specifically designed to reach people in solitary confinement. For anyone joining the program, Solitary Watch provides names and addresses of individuals in solitary, guidelines for maintaining a healthy correspondence, and ongoing advice and support. 

Change Two Lives with One Stamp

In an age of electronic communications, letters often remain the one and only way to penetrate the dark world of solitary confinement, and to establish contact with a group of people who have been banished and buried – not only by society, but also by the prison system itself. 

We believe this communication has the potential to transform the lives not only of the individuals in solitary, but of those on the outside who bear witness to their suffering and resilience.

Start Writing to Someone in Solitary

First, take a look at our Lifelines to Solitary program overview and make sure this volunteer opportunity is right for you.

If you decide to become a pen pal, your own address and full name remain private. We provide a PO box where your pen pal can write to you, and we forward these letters to your address. 

To learn more, email our program director, Marlies Talay, at marlies@solitarywatch.org. She’ll provide additional resources and help you get started! 

Sign up a Friend or Loved One for Lifelines to Solitary

If you know someone currently in solitary confinement who might like to be assigned a pen pal, ask them to write with their request to Lifelines to Solitary, PO Box 11503, Washington, DC 20008. We will be glad to send them our guidelines and sign them up for the program.

Support Lifelines With a Gift to Solitary Watch

Lifelines to Solitary is 100 percent supported by individuals like you. Please consider making a donation today.