Almost 2.5 million Americans are currently incarcerated in thousands of prisons and jails throughout the country. Many of these institutions lack adequate libraries, and most put strong restrictions on prisoners’ access to books.
* The US has only 5% of the world’s population, but nearly 25% of its prisoners.
The Prisoners’ Literature Project is a grassroots organization that responds to this problem by sending free books to people imprisoned throughout the United States. This mission is rooted in the belief that everyone has the right to read, including prisoners who are trying to work toward social change and self-empowerment, or just trying to maintain their sanity within the prison system.
* 1 in every 100 American adults is currently in prison.
Right now the PLP is extremely low on funds, and needs your help to stay afloat. You can donate by clicking the button below, or visiting
www.prisonersliteratureproject.com. A $25 donation will cover the cost of sending books to eight prisoners.
Also, if you live in the San Francisco Bay Area and are interested in donating books, or helping answer prisoners’ requests, send an e-mail to
jmeakim@gmail.com for more info on how you can help.
* When you add up all the federal and state prisons, local jails, and juvenile detention centers, there are over 5,000 correctional institutions in the United States. Most of these are at or above capacity.
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