A new report from PEN America reveals that tens of thousands of books are being banned or restricted in U.S. prisons. The report, titled "Reading Between the Bars," highlights the censorship of various titles, including self-help books and popular novels such as Elmore Leonard's “Cuba Libre” and Frederick Forsyth's "The Day of the Jackal." According to Moira Marquis, the lead author of the report and senior manager in the prison and justice writing department at PEN, the common theme behind these censorship decisions is the perception that certain ideas and information pose a threat. The report draws upon public record requests, calls to prison mailrooms, and accounts from inmates to shed light on the extent of these bans.

The most prevalent reasons cited for these bans are security and sexual content, which covers a wide range of topics. For instance, Michigan's “restricted” list includes Leonard's thriller “Cuba Libre” and Forsyth's "The Day of the Jackal." Michigan Department of Corrections spokesman justified the ban, stating that “Cuba Libre” deals with criminal enterprises, while "The Day of the Jackal" deals with methods for engaging in planned political assassinations. To address these concerns, Michigan has formed a new Literary Review Committee to review previously restricted publications and determine whether they should remain banned.

Amy Schumer's memoir, "The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo," also faced a ban in Florida due to its graphic sexual content and perceived threat to the correctional system's security and rehabilitative objectives. Other books that appeared on banned lists include Sun Tzu's "The Art of War," the compilation "Prison Ramen: Recipes and Stories from Behind Bars," Barrington Barber's "Anyone Can Draw: Create Sensational Artwork in Easy Steps," and Robert Greene's self-help best-seller "48 Laws of Power."

According to PEN, there are striking parallels between the frequency of book bans in prisons and those in schools and libraries. In Florida alone, PEN estimates that over 40% of all library bans in 2022 occurred in the state. Furthermore, Florida has the highest number of banned books in its prisons, with over 22,000 titles banned as of early 2022. Texas follows closely with over 10,000 prison book bans.

However, the actual number of bans is likely much higher than reported, as many prisons have erratic or nonexistent record-keeping practices. More than 20 states, including Kentucky and New Mexico, do not maintain centralized records. The report suggests that prison book programs, mostly run by volunteers, struggle to meet the demand for books even without censorship. As a result, there have been limited nationwide efforts to analyze trends in prison censorship.

PEN categorizes bans into two types: content-specific bans and content-neutral restrictions. Content-specific bans target books based on their content, while content-neutral restrictions occur when books are not sent through approved channels. In states like Maine and Michigan, prisoners can only receive books from select vendors, such as Amazon.com, local bookstores, or approved publishers. In Idaho, Amazon and Barnes & Noble are not among the nine approved sellers. Content-neutral restrictions may also apply to packaging, with some federal facilities only permitting white wrapping. Additionally, inmates may be prohibited from receiving free or used literature if they haven't obtained permission from a warden for each specific title. These packaging restrictions were implemented in response to an increase in drug-soaked mail being sent to residents of Idaho's correctional facilities, according to a spokesman for the Idaho Department of Correction.

The "Reading Between the Bars" report follows a similar investigation conducted by the nonprofit Marshall Project in late 2022, which found that 50,000 books were banned in prisons based on lists from 19 states. A previous PEN report in 2019 also highlighted the widespread and arbitrary nature of prison book bans, asserting that the United States carceral system has the largest book ban policy in the country. The decision to ban books ultimately lies with the prison mailroom, making the process susceptible to little oversight and public scrutiny.