Resources: Books, Magazines, and Publishers
PARC corresponds with and mails a directory of these resources to prisoners, their friends and family members. We are often the first point of contact for people to connect with prisoners' rights organizations, community organizations, prison literature and arts projects, family and visiting resources, health care and legal resources, parole and pre-release resources, and the prison abolition movement.
Download a PDF copy of the April 2026 Edition here.
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PDX Books Through Bars Write to the PO Box to request general topics and genres. Up to 3 Books per person, please include the shipping address of your facility and any restrictions. Serves incarcerated people nationwide. |
Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs |
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Pittsburgh Prison Book Project Volunteer organization that mails books and informational resources to incarcerated people across PA for free. Pennsylvania only.
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Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs |
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PM Press PM Press carries counter-culture, anti-prison, and similar titles including The Prison-Industrial Complex and the Global Economy, Let Freedom Ring: A Collection of Documents from the Movements to Free U.S. Political Prisoners, and more. Prisoners receive a 50% discount. No longer offers printed catalog; must view website (asking for outside help if needed) for listings of books. Check your selection against the prison's contraband list as many political books are banned. Serves nationally. |
Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Vendors and Publishers |
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Prison Book Program Provides free books and resources to people in prisons and jails upon request. Please request books by genre/topic/subject rather than by title. Also has an online book request form that loved ones can use. Offers a free National Prisoner Resource List containing contact information and service descriptions for 150+ organizations serving incarcerated people and their families, available in English and Spanish. Also offers a 92 page free legal guide, The Insider's Guide to Jailhouse Law, also available in English and in Spanish. Most book requests take 60-90 days to fulfill. Serves people in most federal prisons and most state facilities except Texas, Michigan and California. Does not serve ICE facilities. |
Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs |
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Prison Books Collective Publishing and Distribution Books-to-prisoners nonprofit based in Durham, NC. PBC's catalog includes radical essays, guides, games, and Words of Fire, our literary magazine of art and writing by incarcerated people (always accepting submissions). Sends books and zines to any incarcerated men in NC, incarcerated people of all genders in AL, and people incarcerated in federal prisons in DE, KY, MD, TN, VA, and WV. Women in NC should mail the NC Women's Prison Book Project. Zines available to people across the US—write for a catalog. |
Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs |
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Prison Library Project All genres of books available, including LGBTQ+, fiction and non-fiction, social sciences, and educational materials. Specific titles are not commonly available. Resource lists available. Include prison mail rules in your request letter and limit requests to once every 4 months. Family and friends can request books through our website The total turnaround time is approximately two-three months. Serves nationwide. |
Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs |
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Prisoner Express Prisoner Express News is published every six months and sent free of charge to incarcerated individuals throughout the United States. They are also available for download online. PE also sends books and educational packets as available. Prisoner Express has ongoing programs in creative writing, chess, meditation, journaling and art. Sends to people nationally.
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Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Newsletters and Magazines |
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Prisoners Literature Project Sends free books to prisoners across the U.S. No Christian or legal books available. Limit requests to once every 9 months, and be patient while they try to find books to match your requests. Inform them of any book restrictions at your prison. PLP is one of PARC's partners - ask them for your next copy of the PARC directory! Serves people nationally. |
Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs |
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Providence Books Through Bars All-volunteer outfit that sends donated books to provide free reading material for incarcerated people to Federal prisons nationwide where accepted and State prisons in: AK, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, GA, ID, IN, KS, MD, MO, MT, NE, NV, NJ, NM, OK, SD, TX, UT. Please do not use the previous Warwick, RI address |
Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs |
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Read Between the Bars Non-profit collective sending free books since 2007. Request by genre. We do not have law books. Serves people in Arizona only. |
Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs |