Arkansas Restricts How Inmates Obtain Studying Materials

[ad_1] by Jeroslyn JoVonn January 16, 2026

Arkansas has a brand new coverage that bans books and different types of bodily media from being despatched on to jail inmates.

Arkansas has launched a coverage banning the direct supply of books, magazines, and different bodily media to jail inmates.

Starting on Feb. 1, Arkansas inmates will now not have the ability to obtain books, magazines, or different studying supplies immediately, a transfer officers say goals to forestall contraband in state prisons, KARK stories. The coverage replaces the earlier rule, in place since 2007, that allowed publishers, bookstores, faculties, or accredited shops to ship print supplies on to inmates.

The Arkansas Division of Corrections says printed objects have turn into a significant supply of contraband, with pages typically soaked in artificial medicine like K2.

“While you’re getting 400-page books which might be being despatched in, we are able to’t check each web page,” mentioned Rand Champion, communication director for the Arkansas Division of Corrections. “It’s not about hurting the freedoms of inmates; it’s a security problem of conserving that contraband out.”

Beneath the previous coverage, inmates might obtain books and magazines from accredited publishers or distributors, with supplies inspected and rejected in the event that they posed a safety danger. Corrections officers say such inspections are now not sufficient as a consequence of more and more subtle smuggling strategies.

“Security is primary, after which entry to the books could be quantity two,” Board of Corrections member Lona McCastlain mentioned throughout a Dec. 19 assembly in regards to the new coverage. “I’m very involved a couple of blanket ban, however so long as we are able to … be sure that they've one other avenue. If there’s an avenue, that’s effective. But when there’s no avenue, I feel that’s an issue.”

Through the Board assembly, Arkansas DOC Director Dexter Payne assured members that inmates will nonetheless have entry to books beneath the brand new coverage. Donated books from libraries and bookstores will proceed to be accepted, and inmates can request titles via their unit’s library, with all requests vetted by librarians earlier than supply.

McCastlain prompt permitting inmates to obtain the books they need. Board members famous that many inmates—besides these in punitive isolation—have already got entry to tablets. Payne mentioned the tablets at present supply a set record of books, however inmates can not obtain titles freely. The division is engaged on a brand new communication contract to usher in expertise like Kindles, which might finally let inmates order any e book inside cause.

Then-Chairman Benny Magness, whose time period ended Dec. 31, mentioned K2 is the jail system’s greatest drug drawback and believes the brand new ban will assist deal with it.

“K2 is killing our inmates … Arkansas is first in lots of issues. We must be first on this, and I assure different states will observe go well with on it,” Magness mentioned.