What does the Prison Book Program do?

We are a grassroots organization that exists for one purpose - to send free books to prisoners. We've been doing it since 1972.

Why send free books to prisoners?

Books are crucial to the political, spiritual and educational development of all people. Ray Champagne, a prisoner in Shirley, MA says "I believe that books (education) are the ONLY vehicle to change whether in or out of prison. I would be lost without books and folks to send them." Click here to read Ray's take on why books are so important to prisoners and essays by other prisoners.

Education is a powerful tool that greatly reduces the chances of inmates returning to the prison system after their release. Prison educational programs have been drastically cut and most prisoners cannot afford to buy their own books. Most prisons do not allow family and friends to send books into prisons; they must come from a bookstore or publisher. That's where we step in to help. (We are affiliated with the Lucy Parsons Bookstore.)