This country’s criminal justice system lets inmates shorten their sentences by reading books

A prison reading program solves several prison challenges, including overcrowding and low literacy rates.

In Brazil, the “Remission for Reading” initiative has been running for 13 years, allowing inmates to reduce their sentences by reading books and completing reports.

This model is now being adopted in other countries, such as Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, as they look for new ways to reform prisoners and ease prison overcrowding.

Brazil has long faced challenges with its overcrowded prisons and a recidivism rate of over 80%, ranking among the highest in the world.

So, in 2012, Brazil’s Ministry of Justice introduced a law that lets inmates shorten their sentences by reading books.

The policy builds on the Criminal Enforcement Act 1984, which requires rehabilitation programs to help prisoners reintegrate into society.

However, many past efforts have struggled to make a lasting impact, underscoring the need for more effective approaches.

To help change this, the Remission for Reading program allows all prisoners to access prison libraries regardless of their reading skills or mental abilities.

These libraries are stocked with books in Braille and audiobooks for those with visual impairments, ensuring that every inmate can participate and benefit from the prison reading program.

Inmates participating in the program have up to 30 days to read a book and 10 days to submit a written report.

Those with language barriers or intellectual disabilities receive assistance to ensure equal access.

Each completed report reduces an inmate’s sentence by four days. With a limit of 12 reports per year, prisoners can cut up to 48 days from their sentence annually.

Inmate Edson Reinehr is one of the many supporters of the Remission for Reading program, saying it keeps his mind active and helps him focus on positive thoughts.

His teacher, Ajda Ultchak, stresses that the initiative is about more than just books or shorter sentences—it’s about transformation.

“We hope to create a new perspective on life for them,” Ultchak, a program teacher, told UNESCO. “This is about acquiring knowledge and culture and being able to join another universe.”

Carambaia, a Brazilian publisher, is working to expand prison libraries by providing books to inmates.

As part of the prison reading program, prisoners can review these books, which helps with their rehabilitation while also promoting the publisher’s work.

According to research, inmates in Brazil read nearly nine times more than the national average.

Carambaia emphasized that giving prisoners a platform to share their thoughts helps challenge stereotypes and highlight their critical thinking skills.

In 2021, Kazakhstan introduced the Reading Without Borders program in prisons across the Karaganda region, selecting 40 classic Russian and Kazakh literary works from the 19th and 20th centuries.

The initiative saw promising results, reinforcing the value of literature in rehabilitation.

With its strong religious influence, Uzbekistan launched a similar reading program with books chosen by the Center for Spirituality and Enlightenment to promote intellectual and moral development.

Meanwhile, lawmakers are pushing for a comparable initiative in Russia, advocating for classic literature like Crime and Punishment and Resurrection by Tolstoy as part of prison reform efforts.

With three of these four countries enforcing strict internet censorship, some worry that prison reading programs could be used for indoctrination.

However, few things foster intellectual and moral growth more than classic literature, and books like Crime and Punishment offer deep insights into human nature and society.

Classic literature captures the depth of human experience, providing inmates with a perspective on life’s challenges and triumphs that government-issued materials often lack.

Through stories of redemption, resilience, and morality, these books offer a meaningful way for prisoners to reflect, learn, and grow, making them a powerful tool for rehabilitation.

Here’s Carambia’s review of the prison reading program: