Censorship Survey Results

"Yes. It keeps my mind active and agile. I also self improve thru languages"
IL/Wicc

"Yes. The flipside to the answer above. I love to learn and improve and reading does this."
NBCI

"Yes. I read everything from religious material to education, to fantasy i can get. Its all ive got to do here."
Indiana/ IYC

"Yes. I educate myself, I free my mind, and I keep up on current events. I read daily."
IN 46168

"yes. Self improvement, education, and spiritual work."
Cook County Jail

"Yes. As self-improvement"
Cook County Jail

"Yes. Reading is my method of expanding my knowledge and wisdom in order to grow mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. I also use reading for recreation as a way to relax and escape into another world. I read everyday at various points throughout the day."
CCDOC/IL

"Yes. It helps me "get away" at times, and some books teach you new things, and I read each day."
llinois, USP-Marion

"Yes. I have too much time to read just to pass time. I'm serving a de facto life sentence. I read to improve myself and for education. And this I do on a daily basis."
Westville Correctional Facility

"Yes. It is my current only way to escape from this situation"
IL, Jacksonville

"Yes. I try to study for G.E.D, I read daily. Improvement is a goal"
IL, Hill corrctr

"Yes. A plethera, if they are important to you, respond more personally"
Pinckneyuine

"Yes. Reading is fundamental! I read for self-improvement as well as education. And yes I read daily. If I was home and wealthy I would read daily."
Ind, New Castle

"Yes. Self-improvement and education. I'm studying political science and law. I read daily"
USP Marion

"Yes. As a way to pass time? Yes, as self-improvement? Yes, education? Yes. I read daily."
Cook County Jail

"Yes. To pass time, self-improvement, education, and self help, and spritual. Yes, I do read daily."
Westville Correctional Facility

"Yes. Qll of the above, I read for a way to pass time, self-improvement, education. I try to read a copy of hours a day. And do you know if they accomplish this censorship/banning of reading, it will push us back to the stone ages."
USP-Beaumont

"Yes. Everything you mention. Plus entertainment. Education covers everything (mental, spiritual, emotional) but also cultural, ethnical, gender, etc. Education = Knowledge= Understanding. Understanding kills prejudice. Mark Twain has a quote about travel and understanding being fatal to hate & prejudice."
IL Menard Doc

"Yes. Self-improvement, daily."
Dixon. C.C

"Yes. All of the above. When I am reading a book I am not in prison, I am in the story. Plus the only way I am going to better myself so I dont come back to this place is education, because this place doesn't offer no other way to better myself. Yes every day."
Miami Corr Fac Indiana

"Yes. I read a lot. I have many legal actions pending in multiple fed & state court & even 2 actions filed in the United Nations. Reading keeps me up to date on news & such & what's happening in the world."
USP-Coleman I

"Yes. All of the above. Once the BOP electronically published regulations weekly. Now we are denied (cost was cited). No information on making it difficult to obtain, serves the admin only."
Elkton FCI

"Yes. As self-improvement and education. Yes, I read daily."
Westville Correctional Facility

"Yes. Reading expands the mind, opens up new nworlds, introduces us to other cultures, lets us see and hear other viewpoints. Reading allows us to be present in a certain time when the book was written."
Pinckneyville Correctional Center

"Yes. I read for self-employment, education, and for intellectual enlightenment. Reading is very important to me and I read daily."
Menard CC IL

"Yes. Reading is very fundamental, it's an addiction of mine. I am a very nosey person, so reading for me is how I live & how I stay alive. I read daily, nightly, and in my sleep."
CCDOC

"Yes. I read daily and for all the reasons stated. I will give any written work a try."
Federal Satellite Low Elkton

"Yes. I try to."
Salinas Valley State Prison

"Yes. Passing time, self inprovement, keeping up with the news, education, entertainment."
Federal Corr Inst. Perkin, IL

"Yes. It does help to me go by and reading the Bible helps me be humber with my surroundings."
Pinckneyville Prison Facility

"Yes. For me, it's a way to pass the time as well as for self-improvement and education."
Big Muddy River CC IL

"Yes. Yes, it's important. It helps pass time. Helps me become smarter. Also helps clam me down at times. It also helps me escape reality. I also do read daily."
North Dakota State Penitentiary

"Yes. Pass time, self-improvement, education. Yes, I try to read everyday."
Big Muddy River CC IL

"Yes. I use reading to educate myself - pass time - self-improvement - I read everyday. I read only Christian books."
Big Muddy River CC IL

"Yes. I read everything for education, pass time. My pictures are what's most important to me in here. My library is 2nd. Over the past 15 years, they have taken 100's of books from my cell and the mailroom."
Wabash Valley Correctional Facility, IN

"Yes. All 3. Read daily"
N/A

"Yes. Reading is important to me Because I am not allowed to take the electronic class they ae given at FMC Rochester, MN. I read for self-education, I got electrical on my NATEF degree, but I dont have the electronic section of it."
N/A

"Yes. It's very educational, fulfilling, it enlightens you on what's happening and educate you on new material. Yes, and I do read daily. It takes you places you've never been before."
Pinckneyville Corr. Ctr.

"Yes. I read daily. All the above. There is something to learn in every book ever written. Sometimes I wish I could hole away somewhwere and just say FTW and just read. "So many books, so little time." Stephen King"
Centralia corrections

"Yes. Passing time, and I like E.D books"
IDOC Vianna CC

"Yes. Reading passes time for me and is another outlet to gain knowledge. Yes I read daily."
Indiana/ISF

"Yes. Many different reasons. To pass the time, to strenghten my faith, education, and self-improvement."
IL, Marlor

"Yes. All of the above"
I.S.P

"Yes. Im trying to prosper. Time to learn; some of the greatest minds came out of prison. Truth is hidden in Guukp, seek you shall find the bible said. I want to escape the mind traps by reading enjoy art. Reading is a free vacation."
Clifford Clark

"Yes. A way to pass time, I read daily."
PA-Rockview

"Yes. Reading is very important eventhough I am slow at it, but the more I read the more educated I get. I've started reading in the penitentary. I use it not to pass time, but to get eternal knowledge. I have a gift. What I read, I gain sight from my subscious to allow me to be conscious. Although I do not read daily, only certain basic like biblical knowledge. I have a drive for prophecies."
Dixon-Illinois

"Yes. Reading is life. Outside of here too. I've become a better person because of it. Self taught skills, critical thinking skills, also for entertainment."
FCI Pekin

"Yes. Self imnprovement and education as well. How to empower others and help others as needed."
WIDOC Taycheedah

"Yes. It's a way for me to find inspiration for stories I want to write"
WI Oshkosh

"Yes. Yes to all: as a jailhouse lawyer I read a great deal to remain informed. The challenge is library is closed often due to staff shortage and the material is dated and has minimum value other than entertainment."
WI Stanley Correctional

"Yes. Absolutely. I don't read daily, or even monthly, but when I want to I can devour a 1000+ page novel in a weekend. I read for fun, education (which is synonymous with self-improvement), and expanding my understanding of culture. More than once I've forced myself through a renowned classic just to try and divine why it is considered such."
WIDOC Waupun

"Yes. Due to reading I applied myself in so many ways and I'm currently enrolled in an advanced paralegal program of which I've scored 90% on my first test and I'm now enrolling with Adams State University to get my Bachelor's Degree in sociology."
MCC Chicago

"Yes. Mainly knowledge and self improvement. When I can't get my books in from being censored and blocked, I have to go to my prison tablet and research case law so I can gain knowledge in fighting my case criminally and fight civilly against the prisn system for violating my constitutional rights."
Indiana Pendleton

"Yes. Reading is a most direct and detailed form of education which includes self-imrpovement and outreach. Before the tablets, reading was literally our only opportunity to learn outside of ourselves. And frequently reading new materials provides the appropriate insights necessary to establish moral correctness / uprightedness."

"Yes. To pass the time and very educational. I read daily."
FCI Butner

"Yes. It is THE WAY I do my time. It is how I cope with stress and better myself for the future."
USP Marion

"Yes. I read to learn. I read to do research for my own short stories and nonfiction books. I've recently been published and won a statewide contest."
WI/JCI

"Yes. Education: Ir ead daily and I feed my brain so I can elevate myself, like Malcolm X and Huey P Newton and Angela Davis"
FCI Petersburg

"Yes. I read daily, it helps me learn about myself, this struggle we fight as transgender women, people & working people."
WIDOC

"Yes. Reading passes the time and expands our minds"
NCCF