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Melissa Ludin (Leading with Conviction™ 2024) writes: “In Wisconsin prisons, a new policy trend is replacing physical mail with photocopies. For those who haven’t experienced incarceration, this change might seem minor – an administrative adjustment to improve security. But as someone who has lived through incarceration and experienced the profound impact of receiving physical mail, I can tell you that this shift robs incarcerated people of one of the few deeply human connections they have left. …
During my time in prison, letters were my lifeline.
“During my time in prison, letters were my lifeline. The simple act of opening an envelope and feeling the paper within was deeply grounding. I could hold onto those letters, reread them when I felt lost, and remind myself that someone out there cared about me. The weight of the paper and the handwriting on the page carried the presence of the person who had sent it.
“Physical mail was more than words on paper — it was a reminder that I hadn’t been forgotten. Those letters gave me something to hold onto, literally and emotionally. They helped me stay hopeful in an environment designed to strip away my sense of self and, for me, being a woman.
“When I imagine those same letters replaced by photocopies, I feel a deep sadness for those who are incarcerated now. The thought of receiving a copy instead of the real thing – of being handed a bland replica of what used to feel so personal – is heartbreaking.”
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