WASHINGTON, D.C.—With a record 10,000 instances of individual books banned in the 2023-24 school year alone, Banned Books Week—recognized since 1982—is an important reminder of the censorship crisis in America. Book bans also extend beyond schools, with reports that federal prisons are abusing the rejection policy for books and publications. In conjunction with Banned Books Week and the bicameral Congressional resolution condemning the escalating censorship crisis, Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawai’i) led their colleagues in calling on Colette Peters, Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, to provide a full list of books and publications rejected by Bureau of Prison (BOP) facilities, along with more information on how BOP officials determine which materials should be rejected.
In addition to Welch and Schatz, the letter to Director Peters was signed by Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee; Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.); Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.); Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).
“Reading supports rehabilitation and reentry for incarcerated individuals. Approximately 41% of incarcerated individuals do not have a high school diploma, but those who participate in any kind of educational program are 43% less likely to recidivate. Access to books in prisons makes our prisons, and our communities, safer,” wrote the lawmakers during Banned Books Week. “Under the Bureau’s policy, wardens may reject a publication only if they determine it is “detrimental to the security, good order, or discipline . . . or if it might facilitate criminal activity.” Amid reports that this policy is being abused, and that access to books in our prisons is falling generally, we would appreciate your help as we work to gather more information.”
Read the full letter here or below:
September 27, 2024
Dear Director Peters:
This week is Banned Books Week, which was launched in 1982 to draw attention to the harms of censorship and to support the freedom to read. We believe access to reading in your facilities is an important tool to support the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ mission: to provide a “secure environment and ensure public safety by preparing individuals for successful reentry into our communities.”
Reading supports rehabilitation and reentry for incarcerated individuals. Approximately 41% of incarcerated individuals do not have a high school diploma, but those who participate in any kind of educational program are 43% less likely to recidivate. Access to books in prisons makes our prisons, and our communities, safer. Under the Bureau’s policy, wardens may reject a publication only if they determine it is “detrimental to the security, good order, or discipline . . . or if it might facilitate criminal activity.” Amid reports that this policy is being abused, and that access to books in our prisons is falling generally, we would appreciate your help as we work to gather more information. To this end, we are requesting the following information:
- Please provide a list of publications rejected at any BOP facility in 2023.
- In the last five years, how many total publications were rejected by BOP facilities?
- Do your facilities reject publications because they come from certain donors, bookstores, community organizations, or publishers? If so, please provide a list.
- How many books are rejected for content-neutral reasons on a yearly basis? (for example, because they were used, donated, paperback, hardcover, not from an approved vendor, or involved ad hoc mailing procedures)
- Do you provide wardens, correctional officers, and mailing staff with guidance, beyond that in Program Statement P5266.11, on how to determine if a publication is “detrimental to the security, good order, or discipline . . . or if it might facilitate criminal activity?” If so, please provide that guidance.
Sincerely,
Senator Peter Welch
Senator Brian Schatz
Senator Richard J. Durbin
Senator Raphael Warnock
Senator Chris Van Hollen
Senator Edward J. Markey
Senator Ron Wyden
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