"It gives me life where sometimes life is hard to find, it lets me dream where dreams seem mostly to be only living nightmares."

There are at present about 50 women and 3,500 men on Death Row in the US. They spend many years awaiting execution.

Almost invariably the prisoners are from poor backgrounds, suffered abuse in childhood and received bad legal representation.

The conditions in which they are held are harsh and dehumanising.

Many are abandoned by their family and friends and have very little, if any, contact with the outside world.

Consequently, letters can be a very real lifeline to them.

This year marks the 20th year since LifeLines was founded by Mr Jan Arriens.  On our News page, you can read how it all began in Jan's own words, and also from the perspective of our Patron, Mr Clive Stafford-Smith OBE.

04/04/2009 - The bulk of the requests for information in response to the articles in the Guardian and the Metro have now been dealt with.  We are aware, however, that some mail has been damaged in transit.  If you have applied more than a week ago but have not yet received any information, please contact us.