Literacy Statistics from begin to read.com
"Eighty-five percent of all juveniles who interface with the juvenile court system are functionally illiterate. More than 60 percent of all prison inmates are functionally illiterate.Penal institution records show that inmates have a 16% chance of returning to prison if they receive literacy help, as opposed to 70% who receive no help.Illiteracy and crime are closely related. The Department of Justice states, 'The link between academic failure and delinquency, violence, and crime is welded to reading failure.' Over 70% of inmates in America's prisons cannot read above a fourth grade level."
Statistics like these took on new meaning for me after a trip to the James River Correctional Center, a medium-security prison in Jamestown, North Dakota that houses 400+ male prisoners. As part of the Summer Institute for my masters program in library science, eight students went to the prison to help inventory books. Upon entering, we were immediately struck by the overwhelming atmosphere. We surrendered our driver's licenses for identification and passed through a metal detector. Glen, a guard who also works in the library, escorted us through several automatic doors that unlocked and then locked behind us. Finally, we reached the library. Glen took us in and locked the door behind us. We were greeted by Konnie, our instructor, who works part-time in the prison libraries around the state.
The library was modest to say the least. There are no computers and there is no internet access in the prison. Many of the books were old and ragged, and Glen told us that they are always in need of more books and are happy to take donations. He said that especially during the winter months, the library is very busy.
After we left the prison, I was struck by the irony of the situation. Is there a need for prison libraries? Can we help by donating books and materials? The answer, of course, is yes. And yet, as we look at the literacy statistics of those who are incarcerated--60% are functionally illiterate, I couldn't help but wonder how many prisoners never use the library because of their inability to read.
Back on the bus, various conversations broke out about the prison experience. The general consensus? We were overwhelmed by the feeling that even as temporary volunteers we had to give up every basic freedom that we take for granted. But more importantly, we concluded that our mandate as educators is clear. We must work relentlessly, and intervene whenever necessary, to empower our students by giving them the precious gift of literacy.
If you would like to donate any books, used or new, just e-mail me, and I'll give the information you'll need to send the books to the prison.
