Books Behind Bars

When it became public knowledge that the Books Behind Bars program was no longer able to send free books to inmates in the Virginia prisons, the outcry from citizens all over the state was amazing. It was very apparent that feeding the minds and souls of incarcerated individuals was extremely important and that “No more free books” was totally unacceptable. The Books Behind Bars program is grateful to all who wrote letters and made calls to officials asking them to remove the ban on books. They can now continue to offer free books to the incarcerated individuals in Virginia prisons and jails and also provide a place where they may purchase books if they so choose.

Because of the media publicity, the Books Behind Bars program is receiving many requests from men and women in jails in the state, overjoyed that they found a place where they could get some free books. “This place doesn’t have any library and there is nothing here to read. Please send me some good books to read. I like mystery and anything by black authors.”-R.S.
“I want to send you a sincere thank you for the books that you sent. I can’t express enough how much it is appreciated. This place has absolutely no library available for prisoners who are confined in isolation so the books that you sent were definitely a gift.” - G.A.
“I’d like to thank you and your staff for the goodwill and services you provide us inmates here at Southampton Men’s Work Center. I can’t begin to express the asset you all are to this institution by providing us with the great literature that is used educationally and leisurely. A true asset to our minds.”-M.W.

These are just some of the many thank you letters that the Books Behind Bars program receives from grateful inmates.

Donations in the past from CACF, Bama Works and others have enabled the program to buy dictionaries, thesaurus’, books on how to start a business and books by black authors. Please contact Jocelyn at Jscherr@cacfonline.org to learn how to make a donation to the Books Behind Bars program.