Books Through Bars sends free books to prisoners nationwide and encourages a creative dialogue on the criminal justice system, thereby educating those living inside and outside of prison walls. The Providence group, a grassroots all-volunteer organization, has been in existence for 7 years. We are currently located in the parish house of Bell Street Chapel, off Broadway, in Providence, and receive our requests c/o Myopic Books, 5 South Angell St., Providence, RI 02906.

Prisoners writing to Books Through Bars say they have little access to educational opportunities. Most prisons provide GED programming, but many prisoners remain on waiting lists for several years before they can enroll. Prisoners housed in segregation units are unable to participate in any classes or programs. Prison libraries tend to be under-funded, lacking in educational books or contain books that are decades old.

Prisons won't allow individuals to send book packages ; they must come from a publisher or bookstore ; so concerned citizens have started prison book programs all over the country.

We believe that literacy and access to reading materials are crucial for the personal, spiritual, and political development of all people. With over 2 million people locked up in our nation's federal and state prisons, and with the privatization of building and running these prisons, education programs are being drastically cut. The need for this service has never been greater.Education is the only tool proven to help prevent people from returning to prison again and again.