Friends in Prison
Clare Aaronson has 29 friends in prison. They are pen-pals scattered across the United States. Some are men, some are women, one could be released in as little as 70 days and some are on death row.Get to know Clare and her friends and learn how you can find your own friends in prison.
Episodes
Can a soccer mom become friends with a guy with face tattoos?
Music courtesy of JulisH
Can a person really change? Can a person guilty of murder really change? Juan had a change of heart; can he maintain that change even if it's dangerous to get out of a gang? Can he maintain that change once he's released from prison? What's the secret? What changed Juan's heart?
OH! and sorry for getting teary eyed!
Music courtesy of JulisH
Clare updates her friends no how she faired through the hurricane (spoiler alert -she's fine). An update after reaching out to 10 new penpals. Why one of Clare's friends is in solitary confinement. A news story about a sexual offender and how Clare feels about coresponding with people on the sexual offenders' registry.
Music courtesy of JulisH
There are discussions in this episode of self-harm/ suicide and sexual violence and may not be appropriate for all audiences.
Music courtesy of JulisH
Let's peruse profiles on penpal websites!
music courtesy of JulisH
How could a person as intelligent, kind, respectful and friendly as Juan end up in prison? If we can understand why he got mixed up with a gang and a life of crime, maybe we can figure out how to keep him out of the gang and thug life when he's released from prison.
Music courtesy of JulisH
Should Clare tell her pen-pals that she cannot share any financial gifts with them? Or can she limit her gifts to $10/year? Or can she grow a backbone and tell a specific pen-pal, "no, I can't send you anything more."
Music courtesy of JulisH
Juan's parole is approved after 28 years in prison... what's next for Juan? What's next for Clare? Several of her pen pals will be released from prison before 2023. How can she support them as they head home? Will she find new friends in prison? You can find your own friends in prison at these sites; penacon.com, inmate-connection.com, wireofhope.com, friends4prisoners.com, meet-an-inmate.com, and donotpay.com.
<...
One of Clare's penpal's is released from prison, another is packing to go to a halfway house soon. One penpal, Daniel, is going before the parole board soon and another, Val, is hopeful she'll figure out how to home sooner than 17 years from now.
Music courtesy of JulisH
What do you do when a penpal asks for money? What do you do when a penpal sends YOU money? How much money is a reasonable gift for a birthday?
Music courtesy of JuliusH
Casey White escaped from prison with the help of Vicky White, a prison guard, not a penpal.
Trigger warning: this topic includes discussion of violence and self-harm.
Music courtesy of JuliusH
If you don't know what to write to to your pen-pal or you wanna know what Clare writes to her pen-pals, send a holiday greeting. Luckily there are lots of holidays. As a bonus Clare introduces the "devos" she started writing.
Music courtesy of JuliusH
Val took down her Fundraiser for personal reasons. Inmates across the US are purchasing tablets for music, movie, games, podcasts, legal research and communication. What are the possible pitfalls? What are the advantages?
An update on Clare's friend, Val, who is serving a 55 year sentence.
If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of self-harm please reach out, call 1800-273-8255; the suicide prevention hotline available 24 hours a day.
Music courtesy of of JulisH
An update on Aguilera-Mederos, the CO truck driver sentenced to 110 years for a crash and an update on Val, Clare's penpal who lost her father and his financial support this year.
Music Courtesy of JuliusH
Why did a truck driver in CO get 110 years for causing an accident when his brakes failed when a woman in MO got 16 for an attempted murder of her husband, the successful murder of her husband, the cover-up of those crimes and attempt to frame her brother-in-law for the murder? Is 55 years a reasonable sentence for a DUI crash that resulted in the deaths of 4 people? This last case is Clare's friend, Val who is trying to raise...
Clare's friend, Dannette, can't get shampoo in her prison but she's trying to fix the problem and get her hair clean. Clare's encouraging everyone to send a Christmas card to their penpals or find a penpal to send a first card to.
Music courtesy of JuliusH
I wanted to title this one "Thanksgiving, Camping and more Duck Divorce" But I recorded it at too low a volume, please remember to turn your volume back down after you listen to this episode! And remember your friends in prison as we approach the holidays.
Music courtesy of JulisH
This is not an endorsement of searching for a date inside prison even though this is the 3rd episode on the topic. Andrew and Megan and falling in love while Andrew still has 3 years to serve in prison in Oregon.
Remember to send Thanksgiving cards to your penpals! This is the perfect time to find a penpal and send them a Thanksgiving greeting.
And a little update on the ducks Clare loves to photograph and share w...
Can you find love in prison? Can you find a kidney?
Music courtesy of JulisH
Popular Podcasts
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations.
Anna Sale explores the big questions and hard choices that are often left out of polite conversation.
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people.
A straightforward look at the day's top news in 20 minutes. Powered by ABC News. Hosted by Brad Mielke.