We serve students in many different prison systems with varying rules and regulations. We have highlighted several guidelines that are consistent among facilities as well as several that are specific to Crossroads’ ministry. We deeply desire to serve all students in all correctional facilities, and respecting these regulations will ensure that we can continue to do so.
- Please do not send any materials not provided by Crossroads to your students. Also, please do not use any tape, correction fluid, markers or highlighters on your letter or reviewed lessons. When a prison mail room finds any extra items in a lesson, they may refuse to accept the lesson and return it to Crossroads, causing a delay in the lesson reaching the student.
- Please do not put greeting cards or note cards in a Tier 1 student’s lesson. Because prison mailing restrictions for cards change often, cards included with a lesson may cause the lesson itself to be rejected. If you would like to send a card to your Tier 2 or Tier 3 student, be sure to check your mentor portal account to verify the facility’s restrictions first.
- Please use only your first name when communicating with students. Do not use your last name or address in your communication. Remember to remove any inserts that include your personal information before sending the lesson to the student.
- If a student asks for a parole recommendation letter, please contact the Crossroads office about this request. For Tier 1 students, you will not have enough information to advocate for them effectively, so Crossroads will take care of their request. For Tier 2 or Tier 3 students, Crossroads will ask for your input.
- Use caution when responding to student requests. If a student requests that you contact family, friends or victims on their behalf, please do not do so. Direct any financial or legal requests to Crossroads. Your role is to encourage and disciple your students as you work through the lessons with them. Getting involved with these types of requests can hinder this role. Simply respond to them by stating, “I am not allowed to do this.”
- Please do not contact a correctional facility for any reason. If you have any concerns about your student’s well-being, please contact the Crossroads office.
- If your student speaks negatively about the prison system, please offer encouragement rather than engaging in negative discussion. The environment in prison breeds negativity and can be oppressive. Over time, this can weigh heavily on students, and they will occasionally express this in some way. Please encourage the student, keeping in mind that we don’t have control over what the student is experiencing.
- Please avoid controversial topics. It’s not uncommon for students to share political and theological views that are very different from yours. We ask that you avoid engaging in debates or “correcting” their opinions. Try to keep your letters and comments focused on discussing the lesson content and providing encouragement.