Open Letter: Authors Demand Texas School District Reinstate Their Books
Authors join together demanding that a Texas school district reverse its decision to ban their books. More
As Part of National Banned Books Week, PEN America to Focus on the Right to Read in the Nation’s Prisons
“With all of our societal focus on how to make the criminal justice system more just and less self-defeating, vindicating the right to read in prison is an obvious… More
Misguided Ban on Used Books in Ohio Prisons Marks Troubling Erosion of the Right to Read
We urge Governor Mike DeWine of Ohio, Director Annette Chambers-Smith of Ohio’s Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, and other state authorities to reverse these policies, and to re-evaluate how… More
Washington State’s Decision to Ban Book Donations to Prisons Misguided and Harmful
"Literature offers a way for people in prison to expand their minds, to retain a sense of connection to the outside community, to pass the time, and to continue… More
New Ukrainian Sanctions Against Russian Book Publishers and Internet Bookstores is a Brazen Attack on Intellectual Freedom
"These new sanctions violate Ukrainians' right to intellectual freedom, and seek to sever Ukraine from the global literary and academic community." More
PEN America Files Friend of the Court Brief in Michigan Right to Literacy Case
“The complete failure of the state of Michigan to ensure a basic standard of literacy for these students is not only an outrage, it is also unconstitutional. The freedom… More
Maryland’s New Prison Policy on Access to Literature a Step in the Wrong Direction
"As a result of this policy, thousands of people in prison now have their access to reading and educational materials primarily dictated by the offerings of just two companies.… More
Restrictive Policy in Various Federal Prisons Represents a Misguided and Destructive Disregard for the Right to Read
“Forcing incarcerated people to pay potentially exorbitant prices for books they could receive for free from friends, family, or charities, the policy makes it effectively impossible for many… More
New York State’s Efforts to Restrict Access to Books in Prisons Shows Troubling Disregard for Right to Read
The State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision needs to promote policies that uphold inmates' access to information and safeguard the right to read. Directive 4911A, a ruinously over-broad… More
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