After remaining steady for almost 100 years, imprisonment rates increased from 111 in 1974 to nearly 500 by 2000; anti-prison activist refer to this surge as the ‘prison boom’. Currently, 1.5 million people are in prison and more than 7 million are under some form of correctional control. Not only this 4.5 million people have been to prison at some point in their lives and are now back in their communities suffering from a variety of legalized discrimination. And it’s not only the scale of imprisonment, but also the color. Blacks are six times more likely than whites to be imprisoned and Latinos are twice as likely as whites to be imprisoned. And while racial disparity in imprisonment has been a social reality since emancipation, the prison boom increases the impact of this disparity. In addition to all of this, between 1974 and 1996, women’s chances of going to prison at some point during their lives increased 6 times; men’s increased 3 times during the same period. As a result, while in 1980, only 4% of prisoners were women, by 2000, more than 7% Black women and white men have nearly the same chances of serving time: 3.6% and 4.4% respectively.
128 packages so far in 2021!
That’s about 250 books and composition books in all to women and trans people locked up across the country. (In 2020—with our capacity drastically cut due to COVID-19 precautions—we sent 1,964 packages. In 2019, we sent 5,117 packages; in 2018, 4,852.) Big, big thanks to all our supporters because we couldn’t do it without you, especially in this most difficult time. (January 18, 2021)
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ICYMI: In the News
Lit 50: Who Really Books In Chicago 2019 New City, May 23, 2019
Women doing time have plenty of time to read — and you can help Chicago Sun-Times, July 10, 2018
Chicago in action: Give back to the city with these three volunteer organizations Chicago Tribune RedEye, June 14, 2018
Local nonprofits find Amazon wish lists a prime resource for driving donations Chicago Sun-Times, May 3, 2018
Find more articles here—plus TV and radio segments.
Women doing time have plenty of time to read — and you can help Chicago Sun-Times, July 10, 2018
Chicago in action: Give back to the city with these three volunteer organizations Chicago Tribune RedEye, June 14, 2018
Local nonprofits find Amazon wish lists a prime resource for driving donations Chicago Sun-Times, May 3, 2018
Find more articles here—plus TV and radio segments.
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