IDOC Expands Freedom Reads Partnership With New Libraries, Hosts Inside Literary Prize Events at Correctional Centers (Springfield, IL) – The Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) this week partnered with the national nonprofit Freedom Reads to host a series of literary events at Logan and Shawnee Correctional Centers, while նաև expanding access to books through the installation of new Freedom Libraries.
As part of the visit, seven new Freedom Libraries were unveiled at Logan Correctional Center in Lincoln, a women’s facility, bringing the total number of such libraries across four IDOC facilities to 35 since 2022. Existing locations include Decatur Correctional Center, Illinois River Correctional Center and Lincoln Correctional Center.
The events coincided with the third annual Inside Literary Prize, a national award judged exclusively by incarcerated readers. Participants at both Logan and Shawnee correctional centers took part in discussions, author engagements and voting on this year’s shortlisted books.
“Reading creates space for reflection and growth, giving individuals the chance to engage with new ideas and perspectives,” said IDOC Director Latoya Hughes. “With the expansion of Freedom Libraries and the Inside Literary Prize, more individuals will benefit from resources that support critical thinking and meaningful engagement.”
At Logan, incarcerated participants engaged in discussions with Freedom Reads staff before casting votes for the 2026 prize. The visit also included a poetry reading and author talk by Reginald Dwayne Betts, founder and CEO of Freedom Reads, who drew on his own experience with incarceration to underscore the transformative power of literature.
“At Shawnee Correctional Center in Vienna, a men’s facility, 25 incarcerated judges participated in a three-hour discussion before welcoming author Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, the 2025 Inside Literary Prize winner, who read from and signed copies of his book Chain Gang All-Stars.
“Freedom Reads events are grounded in community and a genuine love for the written word,” Adjei-Brenyah said. “Spending time with the staff and the guys inside felt enriching to my spirit and truly rewarding.”
Launched in 2023 by Freedom Reads, the National Book Foundation and the Center for Justice Innovation, the Inside Literary Prize is the first U.S.-based literary award determined solely by currently incarcerated individuals. This year’s finalists include Aednan by Linnea Axelsson, All Fours by Miranda July, Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar, My Friends by Hisham Matar and The Book Censor’s Library by Bothayna Al-Essa. The 2026 winner is expected to be announced this summer.
Freedom Reads, founded by Betts, aims to expand access to literature within correctional facilities by installing handcrafted bookcases stocked with curated collections spanning poetry, philosophy and classic and contemporary works. The initiative is rooted in the idea that literature can foster reflection, connection and personal growth.
IDOC officials said the continued partnership reflects a broader effort to provide educational and rehabilitative opportunities within correctional facilities, helping to create meaningful engagement and support personal development among incarcerated individuals.
IDOC Expands Freedom Reads Partnership With New Libraries, Hosts Inside Literary Prize Events at Correctional Centers
