Why Give to the Prison Book Drive?

In the face of increasingly dire state budget shortfalls, California, Virgina, Kentucky and many other states are looking to reduce prison expenditures. In a system that is already stretched to the limits, further budget reductions are already having devastating results.

For example, more than 1,300 inmates at the California Institution for Men in Chino rioted for 11 hours on August 8 and 9, 2009. More than 250 were injured with at least 55 taken to the hospital with critical injuries, including stab wounds.

Lack of Educatonal and Rehabilitation Programs

When Chickens Come Home To Roost

Overcrowded conditions were almost certainly the cause, with 5,900 men housed in a facility designed for 3,000. The United States has the dubious distinction of having both the highest number of incarcerated individuals, and the highest incarceration rate, of any country in the world. More than 1 in 100 American adults (2.3 million) were incarcerated at some point during 2008.

Educational, vocational and rehabilitation programs in prisons – already the subject of previous budget cuts – continue to be targeted in state cost saving initiatives, despite the fact that study after study has shown that education and skills are a primary driver of reduced rates of recidivism. Not only are prisoners who attend educational programs while incarcerated less likely to reoffend and return to prison following their release, but certain kinds of educational programs lead to reduced levels of violence by inmates involved in the programs and a more positive overall prison environment.

Programs Can Bridge the Gap

Initiatives such as Prison Book Program exist to help bridge the gap between formal programs offered by some prisons and the still unmet educational needs. For example, illiteracy rates among incarcerated adults in the United States are estimated to be as high as 60% and existing prison-based programs often cannot keep up with the demand for services.

Yet a motivated inmate, using basic tools such as a dictionary, workbooks, and basic readers can improve their literacy skills, prepare for the GED (General Educational Development) exam, and even begin to plan for future college or vocational study. By sending thousands of free books directly to inmates across the country, the Prison Book Program helps to fuel self-study and individual development – one prisoner at a time.