Update: 06.19.2024: some of the screenshot images used in the original post were lost during the transition from this site on WordPress.com to WordPress.org/FastComet
Learn more about Corrlinks at https://www.corrlinks.com/FAQ.aspx
The following is a modified version of my answer to this question:
Answer by Wayne T. Dowdy
An inmate must put in a Corrlinks contact request to your email address. Then you receive an automated code from Corrlinks through the email address.
You have a choice to accept or refuse correspondence with the inmate. The following is an actual message I received from Corrlinks:
This is a system-generated message informing you that the above-named person is a federal prisoner who seeks to add you to his/her contact list for exchanging electronic messages. There is no message from the prisoner at this time.
You can ACCEPT this prisoner’s request or BLOCK this individual or all federal prisoners from contacting you via electronic messaging at CorrLinks. To register with CorrLinks you must enter the email address that received this notice along with the identification code below.
Email Address: info@wtd4u.com
Identification Code: H7LKQ3XX
This identification code will expire in 10 days.
By approving electronic correspondence with federal prisoners, you consent to have the Bureau of Prisons staff monitor the content of all electronic messages exchanged.
Once you have registered with CorrLinks and approved the prisoner for correspondence, the prisoner will be notified electronically.
For additional information related to this program, please visit the [URL removed for BOP] FAQ page.
Este es un mensaje generado por el sistema que le informa que la persona mencionada es un preso federal que pretende añadirlo a usted a su lista de contactos para intercambiar mensajes electrónicos. No hay ningún mensaje del preso en este momento.
Usted puede ACEPTAR esta petición del preso o BLOQUEAR a esta persona o a todos los presos federales de contactarlo a usted a través de la mensajería electrónica en CorrLinks. Para inscribirse en CorrLinks debe introducir la dirección de correo electrónico que recibió esta notificación, junto con el código de identificación a continuación.
Dirección de correo electrónico: info@wtd4u.com
Código de identificación: H7LKQ3XX
Este código de identificación expirará en 10 días.
Al aprobar la correspondencia electrónica con presos federales usted esta consientendo a que personal de la Oficina de Prisiones superivse el contenido informativo de todos los mensajes electrónicos intercambiados y cumplir con todas las reglas y procedimientos del Programa.
Una vez registrado en Corrlinks y aprobado para la correspondencia el preso será notificado por vía electrónica.
Para obtener información adicional relacionada con este programa, por favor visite la página de preguntas frecuentes [URL removed for BOP]
a) If you wish to accept correspondence, you must open a Corrlinks account through the email address.
b) If the inmate is NOT a federal prisoner, you will need to fund the account because it will cost you to send messages (rates may vary but I pay $0.10 per message to Wisconsin inmates).
If the inmate is a federal prisoner, he or she must pay to access the public messaging system and it won’t cost you anything unless you elect to pay the annual $6.00 fee for Premier Service so that you receive a notification when he or she emails you. Otherwise, you must go to CorrLinks to check for messages because the notification process often fails.
Once you receive the Notification from Corrlinks that an inmate wishes to “exchange electronic messages” with you, do this:
1) copy the automated code as shown above that consists of capital letters and numbers;
2) use a laptop or PC computer to accept the request (not a cellphone because it won’t work for the acceptance process and is very limited for messaging once you’ve established contact with the person). Login to the Corrlinks account with the email address and password, and then prove that you are not a robot through reCAPTCHA by selecting the proper images [a sometimes aggravating process because of distorted images and ones that change and others that appear in a former place you selected].
3) Then you will see a box to enter the Identification Code you copied in Step 1);
4) Enter the code and click GO, and then when the panel opens to the right side of the screen (not shown in this example), click the box to “ Enable Email Alert ” (which happens to work more often when you pay for the Premier Service);
5) Click “Accept” and then after the inmate receives the notification that you wish to correspond, he or she may message you after depositing funds in the institutional inmate account process, or you may be the first to message, once the incarcerated person accepts the contact connection.
6) To retrieve messages you go to the Mailbox:
Beware: The Corrlinks system will malfunction, so after you type a message, copy it before trying to Save or Send.
I have cursed Corrlinks many times because it logged me out instead of saving or sending my message.
Through WTD4U, I send inmates various information, some of which intelligence-lacking staff at the institutional level, will reject because he or she cannot comprehend rights provided by the First Amendment (Freedom of the Press). Later on, I will send the same message and it gets delivered to the intended inmate.
Some of my more controversial messages have magically disappeared and I’d have to start over, so when I remember I copy and save before clicking Send.
On a laptop or PC, you can save a message as a draft, which closes the screen, but still copy it before trying to save or send. Cellphones are not so user-friendly for doing anything other than reading or sending a message.
Public messaging through Corrlinks can be expensive but I was happy to have an avenue to contact family, friends, etc., once the system was implemented.
On average, I spent close to one-hundred dollars per month on Corrlinks because I wrote blogs to post on this website, short stories, essays, and other forms of content for publication, legal purposes, and for general correspondence.
To learn more about this website and my goal, read About Your Host & Straight from the Pen.
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