A new message from your friends at People For the American Way.

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[ [link removed] ]Tell Congress: End Prison Book Bans! Sign the petition>>

PFAW Member,

The largest book ban in the United States isn’t found in our schools or
our local libraries. It’s found in our prisons. Over 2.2 million Americans
are incarcerated, meaning that the arcane and arbitrary systems of book
restrictions for incarcerated people represent the largest book ban in
America. And yet these restrictions get little public attention.

Access to literature in American prisons is getting worse and worse. In
the past few years, with the stated aim of blocking ‘contraband’ from
entering prisons, various states as well as the federal prison system have
attempted to dramatically restrict book deliveries to incarcerated people,
or shut down such deliveries entirely.

[ [link removed] ]Urge Congress to investigate prison book bans and take action to
improve access to literature>>

In Texas, the Department of Criminal Justice has banned over 10,000 books
from prisons, including books by Alice Walker, John Grisham, Jenna Bush
Hager, Henry Louis Gates, Jr., and Bob Dole. While books from Adolf Hitler
and David Duke have been allowed, books about civil rights and prison
conditions are often blocked.

The federal prison system alone encompasses over 177,000 incarcerated
people, and it has made its own attempt to restrict book access. Last
year, the Bureau of Prisons rolled out a pilot program where incarcerated
people would have to pay an unexplained 30% markup to buy books.
Thankfully, the program was rescinded after public outcry.

Studies show that allowing incarcerated people access to outside
information and ideas reduces recidivism and is essential to a successful
transition back into society.

[ [link removed] ]Sign the petition to both the House and the Senate Judiciary Committees
to convene hearings on book banning practices in American prisons, with
the goal of illuminating the control of incarcerated people's access to
literature>>

This is a national problem, and we need national leadership. Congress can
send a strong message that the American people support access to
literature for incarcerated people across the country.

Thank you,

- Zach, PFAW

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