State backs off prison book ban

The books are back behind bars.

Virginia Department of Corrections officials have reinstated a 20-year-old Charlottesville-based program providing prisoners with free books. The action comes in the wake of protests from state activists and a local civil liberties organization that the ban violated First Amendment rights.

Corrections officials late Tuesday told Kay Allison, president of the nonprofit Quest Institute that operates Books Behind Bars, 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 first reported by The Daily Progress on Sept. 7.

“At this time it is my intention to restore the opportunity for inmates to request three free books per month through the Quest Institute while strengthening our procedures for the introduction of materials into [state prison facilities],” Gene Johnson, corrections director, told Allison in a letter.

Johnson also apologized for not being directly involved in the issue because of recent state budget cuts and budgetary issues that required his attention.

“Perhaps matters could have been settled differently if we had had the opportunity to meet and discuss the issue,” he wrote.

Allison said she is happy that officials reconsidered their position.

“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 department policy change came one day after the Albemarle County-based Rutherford Institute sent a letter calling the book ban unconstitutional, demanding the program be reinstated and threatening possible legal action.

“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.”

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. It also provides inmates with book titles that they request or books on specific topics the inmates request.

Most of the books are donated, although prisoners may purchase some titles, with department-approved paperwork. The program has served more than 11,000 inmates.

The corrections department banned sending books directly to inmates in late August after a book sent from the program was discovered to contain paperclips, Allison said. The clips can be fashioned into ersatz weapons, leading to the department’s concern.

In his Sept. 15 letter to Allison, Johnson noted that a similar incident could cause corrections officials to reconsider the program.

“You must understand that the introduction of contraband of any kind into a correctional setting is a very serious matter,” he wrote. “I trust there will be no problem with such an occurrence happening again regarding materials distributed by the Quest Institute. Should it happen again, we will be forced to re-evaluate our ties with the Quest Institute.”

Allison said program volunteers have been briefed on the issue and have received updated training.

“We have since trained all of our volunteers and double check the books to make sure that no compact discs or paperclips or other material is sent in a book,” Allison said. “We understand how important that is.”