How to Get Free Books for Someone in Prison

Help educate prisoners with free books sent by charitable organizations.

One in 32 adults, or about 3.1 percent of U.S. adult residents, was imprisoned as of 2009, according to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics. There are a number of non-profit volunteer organizations that send free books to prisoners, although certain states and prisons to which the materials can be sent may be limited. Prisoner advocates and volunteers receive and fill thousands of requests for free books every year. Reading helps educate and occupy prisoners, which can mitigate psychological damage and aid in reintegrating them into society upon their release. (Ref 2)

Instructions

1. Visit the Prison Book Program website. Mouse over "Resources" and click on "Request Books."

2. Click on the "form" link to download the PDF file. Print it out and fill out the information.

3. Mail the completed form in to the address listed on the Request Books web page. Note that the Prison Book Program cannot fill requests for prisons located in California, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada or Texas. To see more prisons to which it is unable to send books, click "Prisons We Do Not Serve" on the Request Books web page.

4. Go to the Book 'Em website to request free books to prisoners in any state except Oregon and men in Texas. Send a request listing the subjects in which the prisoner is interested to the address in Pittsburgh.

References

• Prison Book Program: Request Books for a Prisoner
• Book 'Em: About Prisons
• Bureau of Justice Statistics: Correctional Populations in the United States, 2009 - Press Release

Resources

• Books to Prisoners: Home
• Prison Book Program: Home
• Prison Book Program: Prisons We Do Not Serve
• The Pampered Prisoner: Books for Prisoners
• Prisoners.com: Book 'Em