On December 19, 2025, the ABC voted to enact the most restrictive prohibition on books and magazines anywhere in the US. As of February 1, 2026, people in AR state prisons would no longer be allowed to own or receive actual paper books, magazines, or newspapers. They could only read from electronic tablets or check books out from their prison's library. The only exception would be for religious material that had been mailed to a chaplain. ABC said that such a radical approach

Starting April 1, Texas will be instituting changes in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) regulations that restricts books sent to incarcerated individuals. Under the new changes, only new paperback books will be allowed in state prisons (Federal prisons are not impacted.) Used books, hardcovers, and books with minor wear would be rejected.   Additional requirements include prohibitions on: Any markings such as highlighting or annotations Water damage, staining,

This year on International Women's day we take the time to acknowledge and honor the women trapped in our countries prisons and jails. Women make up a proportionately small percentage of the incarcerated population, but have experienced a faster rate of incarceration than men in the past decade. Women in U.S prisons face unique challenges due to the layers of institutionalized gender based violence perpetuated in carceral settings. Power imbalances within the prison setting m

Hello all! My name is Curran Connelly, I currently serve as the President of the Board of Directors for Books to Prisoners. I was asked to comment on 2025 and to describe what I am looking forward to in 2026 for our organization. The following are only my views and do not necessarily describe the goals or feelings of the board as a whole. For those curious, the board is the governing body for BTP. It is largely composed of volunteers who have worked with us for many years, wi

We need more books! Please consider donating your used or new books to BTP!  Current categories we are low on: Dictionaries (paperback) Fantasy (paperback or hardback) Horror (paperback or hardback) Thrillers (paperback or hardback) Native American history (paperback) Pagan/Occult (paperback or hardback) Meditation (paperback or hardback) Cars (paperback or hardback) Black fiction (paperback or hardback)

What got you interested in BTP to begin with, or what made you start volunteering? Does it tie in to the rest of your life in any meaningful way? After some previous book-adjacent volunteering commitments (library tutor, Reading Partners) had ended, I was looking for something new. BtP makes it so easy to get involved in a sustainable way with the flexible scheduling and self-paced work.  Is there anything you especially like about volunteering with us? What are your favorite