Prisons lift ban on local books program

The Virginia Department of Corrections has reinstated a Charlottesville-based program that provides prisoners with free books after the ban drew widespread protest and prompted the threat of a lawsuit.

Corrections officials late Tuesday told Kay Allison, president of the nonprofit Quest Institute that operates the 20-year-old Books Behind Bars program, that they would restore the prisoners’ ability to receive up to three free books each month.

The department had canceled the program, citing concerns about contraband being sent to prisoners in the books and the workload for officials who monitor prisoners’ personal possessions.

News of the ban was broken by The Daily Progress on Sept. 7, drawing significant attention and prompting an outcry from critics.

“I’m very pleased that we’ll be able to continue serving the people in the prisons and help meet their needs,” Allison said. “That’s all we really wanted to do.”

The corrections department policy change came one day after the Albemarle County-based Rutherford Institute sent a letter demanding the program be reinstated and calling the book ban unconstitutional.

“We are pleased that the Department of Corrections came to their senses and recognized that Books Behind Bars has a clear First Amendment right to provide books and information to inmates and inmates have a right to receive them,” said John W. Whitehead, president of the civil liberties group. “This is a remarkable program, and we’re glad to have helped ensure its continued service to the community.”

Rutherford had said it would consider litigation if the ban was not lifted.

Books Behind Bars provides inmates with books such as dictionaries, books on religion, including the Bible and the Quran, meditation, art, literature and a variety of other topics.

Read the full story in Thursday’s Daily Progress.