ELI 5 Arkansas no books for inmates thing? Does this mean no one can donate books or anything? How does this work?

https://lemmy.world/post/44680100

ELI 5 Arkansas no books for inmates thing? Does this mean no one can donate books or anything? How does this work? - Lemmy.World

Lemmy

Arkansas Board of Corrections could not overturn the existing policy of accepting books from approved distributors, because it had been enacted by the Arkansas state legislature. Therefore, the state legislature had to approve any changes. No date has been set for the legislature to consider the ban, which would require 30 days for public comment before a vote. Meanwhile, the current policy, that “Inmates may receive publications from recognized commercial, religious, or charitable outlets”, remains in place.

tl;dr - Old policy still in place until they decide how best to fuck everyone.

according to this: they are not allowed to receive books and other media directly, due to contraband concerns.

Donations of books by nonprofit groups or local libraries to prison libraries will still be allowed under the new policy, according to Department of Corrections spokesperson Rand Champion. The new policy only restricts how books are brought into the prisons, without banning physical media outright.

Arkansas inmates restricted from receiving physical books, other media directly under new policy | Arkansas Advocate

Arkansas inmates will no longer receive books, newspapers or magazines directly under a new policy approved by the Board of Corrections Friday.

Arkansas Advocate
“Department of Corrections” totally has those “Ministry of Love” vibes