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Texas Prisons Ban Hardback, Used Books Over Drug Finds

5/28/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice banned hardback and used books for inmates in April, requiring Windham review.
Officials issued the ban after finding 385 books contained drugs such as meth, fentanyl, marijuana and PCP, and said staff did not introduce them.
Windham spokesperson Danielle Nicholes says the district screens books for quality.
Advocates like Laney Hawes of the Texas Freedom to Read Project say the ban harms rehabilitation.

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Story summary

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice banned hardback and used books for inmates in April, requiring Windham review.
Officials issued the ban after finding 385 books contained drugs such as meth, fentanyl, marijuana and PCP, and said staff did not introduce them.
Windham spokesperson Danielle Nicholes says the district screens books for quality.
Advocates like Laney Hawes of the Texas Freedom to Read Project say the ban harms rehabilitation.