Reading is Saving My Life in Prison Despite Being Censored
The prisons and other inmates are the reasons we can’t have certain books.
Banned books are always a hot topic out in the real world and the list is ever changing. Here behind bars, the list of what we can’t have is subjective. From what I understand, there is a master list of what is banned across the board, as far as the State of North Carolina is concerned, however, I know for a fact each camp has their own set of rules based on whoever opens the packages of books when they arrive.
When books arrive here at my camp, they come to the same place legal mail does. There’s a computer software program available where the administrator can type in the title of the book or periodical and it will tell them if it is approved or not. There’s also a matter of material, such as, is it paperback or hardcover. Furthermore, what size is it? We’re only allowed to have certain sizes, especially when it comes to hardcover. And of course, we can’t have spiral bound or any magazines that contain staples.
Magazines can’t contain full frontal nudity, unless it’s considered scientific in nature. For example, we can get National Geographic or Scientific American, but Playboy or Penthouse are prohibited. Then there’s the limit on how many books we’re allowed to have…
