Press Releases

Today, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) and Representative Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05) introduced the Read for Reentry Act, legislation that would authorize a study into state and federal prison libraries in the United States to better understand and further the role of prison libraries in reducing the number of prisoners who return to prison. 

“Access to the world of books through libraries changes lives,” said Rep. Larsen. “Prison libraries provide incarcerated people with important tools and opportunities for growth. This bill will study prison libraries and their effectiveness to reinforce the work prison libraries do to help incarcerated people return to society successfully.” 

“For years, I’ve said that a prison sentence should not be a life sentence to hopelessness. Libraries give incarcerated individuals access to education, job skills, legal resources, and the opportunity to grow.” said Rep. Emanuel Cleaver. “That’s good for the individual, good for public safety, and good for our communities. Yet we still lack a clear understanding of how prison libraries operate across the country. Better data will help us strengthen these programs, identify best practices, and ensure more people have access to the tools they need to successfully reenter society, and that’s exactly why I’m proud to co-sponsor this bill.” 

The latest data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics shows that about two-thirds of state prisoners are rearrested after three years. However, a 2025 report from the American Library Association suggested that access to prison libraries and education materials may dramatically reduce recidivism rates. Initial studies indicate that prison libraries contribute to this reduction by supporting the mental health of incarcerated individuals, bolstering literacy and education, offering job skill training, employment information and providing incarcerated individuals with resources for reentry.  

Currently, there are no set standards for prison libraries or requirements for prisons to offer library services, and insufficient data assessing existing prison library programs, their usage and outcomes. The  Read for Reentry Act would require the U.S. Government Accountability Office to conduct a study into state and federal prison libraries in the U.S. to fill in these gaps. Its findings could be used to inform and further the work of prison libraries to help incarcerated people, reduce recidivism and improve public safety. Specifically, the study would:  

• Identify sources of funding for state and federal prison libraries; 

• Identify demographic information of state and federal prisons that offer library services; 

• Identify the prison recidivism and parole compliance rates for prisons that offer library services to incarcerated individuals; and 

• Identify the rate of disciplinary infractions involving an incarcerated individual in a state or federal prison that offers library services. 

The American Library Association supports the Read for Reentry Act. 

"Prison libraries make a world of difference through the critical services they offer, books and beyond,” said Maria McCauley, American Library Association President. “Data on state and federal prison libraries proposed by the Read for Reentry Act would build a more comprehensive picture of the impact prison libraries have on reducing recidivism and aiding in reentry. Gathering additional data is the first step towards scaling what works.”  

U.S. Representatives Hank Johnson (GA-04), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Shri Thanedar (MI-13) and Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) signed on as original co-sponsors to this legislation. 

Rep. Larsen routinely donates books from the Library of Congress across Northwest Washington and is a strong advocate for funding the Institute of Museum and Library Services.  

The full text of the Read for Reentry Act can be found here.  

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