Books to Prisoners

Each project solicits book requests from incarcerated people, usually by genre or by naming a preferred author.

Generally, volunteers answer letters, mail packages, and complete administrative work.

Many of the projects are affiliated with a local independent bookstore in their home city, which provides a drop-off location for donations and sometimes a small supply of books as well.

[8] In 2019, the Washington Department of Corrections banned the shipment of used books directly to prisoners.

After facing public criticism and pushback from Seattle Books to Prisoners, the Washington DOC partially backed down and allowed shipments from four BTP programs to continue.