LifeLines supports and befriends prisoners on Death Row throughout the United States, through letter writing. It is the first established organisation of its kind, and has spread both nationally and internationally, with members all over the world.

History of Lifelines

LifeLines began in 1988 when its founder Jan Arriens watched the BBC documentary Fourteen Days in May. Jan was so moved by the words of the condemned prisoners who were interviewed, and by the dignity of the man who was to be executed, Edward Earl Johnson, that he wrote to three of the prisoners. They all replied, saying how much his letter had meant to them and how pleased they were to have their voices heard beyond the prison walls. We are delighted to have the renowned human rights lawyer, Clive Stafford-Smith O.B.E., as our patron.

Lifelines in the Media

LifeLines was the subject of a BBC programme in the Everyman series in 1992. It's also featured on Songs of Praise, in many newspapers and magazines from the Observer to Cosmopolitan, and most recently one of our writers, Jan Hall, appeared on Saturday Live on Radio 4 with Fi Glover.

Conferences

Conferences are held twice a year at which members can hear a guest speaker with expert or first-hand knowledge of issues related to the death penalty. The conferences take place in London every autumn and at a different regional venue each spring. They are a great way for members to get to know one another and meet like-minded people, and are always very sociable and inspiring gatherings.

The Wing of Friendship

Another way of keeping in touch is with the LifeLines quarterly newsletter The Wing of Friendship. Members and prisoners alike are encouraged to submit material for publication and we are happy to say that many do.

Patron: Clive Stafford-Smith O.B.E.
For membership enquiries, please email membership@lifelines-uk.org
For all other enquiries, please email karen@lifelines-uk.org
Lifelines, c/o Karen Collett, 63 Forest Road, Garston, Watford WD25 7QP
Copyright Lifelines 2010