New York is banning all incoming care packages -- including books -- into prisons. Now, if you want to send your loved one a book or a gift, you’ll have to use an approved private prison contractor.

These contractors are making a killing swindling families -- adding huge markups to products, and then charging shipping on top. Now, inmates will only be able access a few hundred books -- when before they could order virtually any title ever written from companies like Amazon.

This is inhumane. It hurts families, and ultimately inmates who may not be able to learn, write papers for classes they are taking, and prepare for their lives after prison.

The New York Department of Corrections is receiving a massive public backlash for this program, and pressure from Amazon itself -- one of the top retailers families use -- could help shut this plan down for good. 

That’s why we’re coming together to ask Amazon to speak out for prisoners’ rights.

Ask Amazon to stand up to New York's prison book ban and support prisoners' right to access affordable and varied reading material.

When internet access is limited or nonexistent, a “good” wage is twenty-five cents an hour, and prison libraries are crowded and understocked, access to cheap (or free) books are a right for incarcerated people.

The Department of Corrections has already put a pause on the pilot program following public outcry and a statement from Governor Cuomo saying that “concerns from families need to be addressed, while we redouble efforts to fight prison contraband.” The DOC said the program would be suspended “until these concerns are addressed.”

But we need to remain vigilant to attacks on prisoners’ rights in the name of “safety.” Even with revisions, the program is a vendors-only system that will restrict options for inmates while making money for private prison contractors.

Amazon could help tip the scales and put this vendors-only system to bed for good. That’s why we’re calling on the major internet retailer to take a stand for inmate education, rehabilitation, and freedom of choice and oppose any vendors-only system in New York prisons.

Amazon: stand up to New York's prison book ban and oppose a vendors-only system.

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