Starting on February 1, 2026, the Arkansas Department of Corrections is set to prohibit books, magazines, and other physical media from being sent to incarcerated people. In December, the Arkansas Board of Corrections passed this prison book ban, asserting that it would stem the flow of drugs into the state’s prison system. This would be the most restrictive prison book ban in the United States. decARcerate is firmly opposed to this new ADC policy. We believe that it is counterproductive and unjustly restricts incarcerated people’s access to information, ideas, and freedom of thought. These are rights that do not disappear when a person is incarcerated and must be protected in a democracy.
We know firsthand the devastating impacts that drugs are having on our incarcerated loved ones. However, a book ban is not the solution to this problem, despite the Department of Corrections claims. The overwhelming quantity of drugs entering jails and prisons comes from staff and people entering and exiting the prisons and not through the mail.
The Arkansas Department of Corrections already excludes many incarcerated people from educational, vocational, and substance use treatment programming based on their release date and age. This book ban will further prevent incarcerated people from accomplishing their life goals given that reading materials are their primary sources for transformation, connection to the outside world, and spiritual growth while in prison. Just like the anti-literacy laws in the times of slavery, this draconian policy is preventing incarcerated people from educating themselves for a better tomorrow. And banning books will do nothing to improve health and safety in or outside of prison.