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A coalition of organizations and individuals working in the freedom to read space published a five-year report on the state of book censorship across the country earlier this fall. It invited literary advocates to share their experiences in fighting back against censorship.

Groups working on prison censorship shared their insights, too. While prison book bans don’t get the same spotlight that public school and library bans do, prison censorship continues to grow and evolve, with these institutions finding new and challenging ways to further curtail the First Amendment rights of those on the inside.

So what’s happening in prison censorship during this era of increasing book bans?

• An increased push to move away from print materials to digital ones, via prison-issued tablets, has severely limited the types of materials available to justice-impacted individuals.

• Ongoing scanning of materials in mailrooms, where there is no transparency about whether or not books are making their way into the hands of those who’ve requested them or letters requesting books are making their way into the hands of advocacy organizations.

• Despite 13 states passing Freedom to Read laws that limit book bans, none of those laws specifically addresses prison censorship.

It’s not all bleak, though.

• Several ongoing lawsuits are challenging the ways prisons censor both access to books for those on the inside and the writing they share.

• This year saw three different federal bills developed that specifically address prison censorship and access to libraries and library services to incarcerated individuals.

• Ground-level advocacy organizations that work to provide books to justice-impacted individuals have been building tremendous coalitions, pushed back against states which have implemented barriers between those on the inside and access to books and educational materials, and they’ve made significant strides in helping the average person understand why prison censorship is an issue everyone should care about.

Read the full five year report on prison censorship and bone up on your knowledge.

Then, see if you can do something this week–which is Prison Banned Books Week–to support the work being done by advocates, whether that’s making a donation to an organization, purchasing a book through an indie bookshop that’s sending them to those on the inside, or see where you can volunteer locally. – KJ