TRENTON, N.J. – The New Jersey Department of Corrections has expanded its partnership with the national nonprofit Freedom Reads, opening 27 new in-unit libraries at South Woods State Prison and bringing the total number of Freedom Libraries across state correctional facilities to more than 60 this year.
The initiative places books directly inside housing units, giving incarcerated individuals daily access to literature and supporting the department’s broader goal of rehabilitation through education and reflection. The installations build on earlier library openings at Northern State Prison and Edna Mahan Correctional Facility.
“Access to literature is essential to creating the normative, dignified environments that foster true rehabilitation,” said NJDOC Commissioner Victoria L. Kuhn, Esq. “By expanding Freedom Libraries to South Woods State Prison, we are ensuring that more individuals in our care have the tools they need to broaden their perspectives, unlock their potential, and prepare for a successful return to their communities.”
Each library contains a curated mix of poetry, fiction, memoir, history, and contemporary works. By embedding the libraries in residential areas, officials say they encourage reading as part of daily life and contribute to calmer, more purposeful living environments.
Freedom Reads founder and CEO Reginald Dwayne Betts said the organization’s mission is to bring reading opportunities into every correctional facility in America. “We have a vision of putting a Freedom Library in every cellblock in every prison in the country,” Betts said. “We’ve been to six facilities in New Jersey and we will come back.”
The program also includes broader literary initiatives, such as the Inside Literary Prize — the nation’s first literary award judged entirely by incarcerated readers — and ongoing book discussions aimed at fostering reflection and critical thinking.
Founded by Betts, Freedom Reads designs and installs libraries in prisons across the United States to promote literacy, self-development, and meaningful engagement through reading.
New Jersey expands its partnership with Freedom Reads, opening 27 new prison libraries to promote rehabilitation and access to literature across state facilities.