Books to Prisoners is a Seattle-based nonprofit on a mission to foster a love of reading behind bars, encourage the pursuit of knowledge and self-empowerment, and break the cycle of recidivism. We believe books are tools for learning — and for opening minds to new ideas and possibilities. Every year, we mail tens of thousands of free books to incarcerated people in prisons across the country.

Founded in the early 1970s as a project of Left Bank Books, Books to Prisoners is one of the largest and oldest prison book programs in the United States. We work in partnership with organizations that support prisoner literacy and advance social justice.

Though our home is in Seattle, our reach extends across the Pacific Northwest. Our three associate organizations, Portland Books Through Bars, Books to Prisoners Olympia, and Books to Prisoners Spokane, offer additional opportunities for volunteers and donors outside of Seattle.