#prison library

Well, today I’d like to introduce you to another cool literacy program for Canadian inmates: Children of Inmates Reading Program, or ChIRP. 

Every month, incarcerated folk get help from volunteers to pick out a book out of the program’s curated list to make a recording of them reading the book aloud to the child(ren) in their lives. The child then gets the recording as well as a copy of the book so that they can read along.

All this is sweet enough as is, but to make things even sweeter, this month, kids in the program will get a little something extra to celebrate the start of summer break.

All inmates will be reading The Very Cranky Bear by Nick Bland, and on top of getting a copy of the book, the kiddos will also receive a teddy bear stuffie!

Programs like these are critical for the mental health of both the children and inmates, as they allow them to bond even though they’re apart, which helps alleviate stress, anxiety, and depression for everyone involved. Based on studies I’ve read in the past, these kinds of programs also work wonders to help reduce the chances of the inmates ending up back in prison, as they’re a great help in easing the transition from prison life back into their families’ lives when they get out.

Host found himself leaning on Yancy, ear pressed against the other man’s chest and resting. He wasn’t going to fall asleep, but it was a nice change in pace compared to the usual rushing chaos that is the Iplier Manor. 

“So no one told you life was going to be this way~” Yancy sang along to the theme song of the show they had been watching for a good three hours. Host didn’t care much for it, he didn’t care much for ‘watching’ TV, but it was nice background noise and Yancy enjoyed it. 

Host felt Yancy’s chest vibrate as he sang, it was definitely soothing. Yancy had a lovely voice, most of the Iplier’s did due to their creator but something about Yancy’s was more calming. Dark’s was deep and gravely, Wilford added comedic tones, Yandere’s was...off-putting. 

“If I have to hear this damn song one more time, I’m going to explode!” Anti’s voice echoed from another room. 

“I’ll be there for you!” Yancy screamed, his body shifting under Host as he made sure that Anti heard every syllable. 

“I’ll be there to stab you, I swear to God, you little jail-ass mother-” Anti’s shouting was suddenly cut off and Host didn’t even need to use his powers to know that Dark was the reason why. Yancy laughed in response to what had happened. Host loved Yancy’s singing very much but he had to admit that Yancy’s laugh was just as enjoyable. His chuckle was soft and deep and like music to Host. 

“I feel like I should turn the volume up more,” Yancy said as he adjusted, wrapping an arm around Host.

“Host can tell that Anti would not be the only one complaining about the volume.” Host said, finding himself nuzzling closer against Yancy. “The Host being one of them.”

“Fine, I’ll keep it down.” Yancy now had both arms around Host and gave him a hug. “But only for yous.” 

Filming Kiss of Death

By Will Greenberg and Brendan Gilligan

Across the United States, nearly every state’s prison system offers some form of tablet access to incarcerated people, many of which boast of sizable libraries of eBooks. Knowing this, one might assume that access to books is on the rise for incarcerated folks. Unfortunately, this is not the case. A combination of predatory pricing, woefully inadequate eBook catalogs, and bad policies restricting access to paper literature has exacerbated an already acute book censorship problem in U.S. prison systems.

New data collected by the Prison Banned Books Week campaign focuses on the widespread use of tablet devices in prison systems, as well as their pricing structure and libraries of eBooks. Through a combination of interviews with incarcerated people and a nationwide FOIA campaign to uncover the details of these tablet programs, this campaign has found that, despite offering access to tens of thousands of eBooks, prisons’ tablet programs actually provide little in the way of valuable reading material. The tablets themselves are heavily restricted, and typically only designed by one of two companies: Securus and ViaPath. The campaign also found that the material these programs do provide may not be accessible to many incarcerated individuals.

Interior of Marquette Prison library. Four men in front of waist-high bookcases.Two large tables or desks. Piano keyboard visible. Flowering plants in pots on bookcases. Handwritten on mat back: "Library, Marquette Prison, R. Holzhey, photographer, Mrs. Pat Lafayette, 10529 Groh Rd., Grosse Ile, MI, 48138."