You can still keep in touch with John Lynch

Former Senate President John Lynch will begin serving his 39 month sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Loretto, Pennsylvania this month. That's the same prison where former Connecticut Governor John Rowland spent a year after his corruption conviction.

People who want to stay in touch with the Middlesex County Democrat over the next three and one-half years should communicate by mail, according to Jack Ambramoff, a former lobbyist now serving in a federal prison. In an e-mail to friends on the eve of his incarceration, Ambramoff noted that federal inmates may "receive letters, photos and periodicals, but thats pretty much it."

"Unfortunately, if anything else is sent, it will either be destroyed or returned to you. As for letters, please bear in mind that the authorities have the right (and in my case probably will use it) to read all incoming and outgoing mail," Ambramoff wrote. "Also, I almost certainly will want to write back to you and, since I dont know whether they are going to limit our stamps, envelopes and paper, if possible, perhaps you could include a self addressed, stamped return envelope and even a blank sheet of paper in that envelope. I am not sure that the return envelope will make it to me, but if not, youll know as soon as you get my return letter. In any event, as you can imagine, I will be beyond grateful for any mail from you."

Lynch can submit ten names on a list of visitors, Ambramoff explains. He can also use the telephone for up to 300 minutes per month, with a limit of fifteen minutes per call. Ambramoff says that the prison permits a call list of up to thirty people. He will not be permitted to conduct any ongoing business from prison, and as Ambramoff notes, the prison staff has the right to review mail and listen to telephone calls. Lynch will not have access to e-mail.