OFFENDER LIBRARY SERVICES
Outside the prison environment, people are
free to seek information and reading materials from a variety of
sources. By virtue of their incarceration, however, Arizona
Department of Correction offenders'
primary access to information and reading materials is the ADC
Offender Library. The Offender Libraries provide materials which
support the various programs in the facilities such as
education, substance abuse prevention, life skills (i.e.,
parenting, anger management, etc.) and religion. As a result,
the libraries are very heavily used. In CY 2003, a total of
539,128 offenders visited one of the unit libraries or sent
in requests for materials and a total of 722,634 books
were checked out during the year.
While there is no legal mandate to provide
general library services, most correctional administrators
recognize the importance of, and the need for, such library
services in correctional institutions. Each ADC facility,
therefore, has some type of library for offender use. Offenders
on open yards may visit their unit library during their free
time. Offenders in higher security level units send in requests
for materials, which are delivered to them in their cells by
library or security staff.
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the Arizona Department of
Correction Offender libraries is to support, broaden, and
strengthen all offender programs offered in the facilities.
LIBRARY PROGRAMS:
Education
Programs
Because of the wide variety of education
levels and needs of the ADC offenders (i.e., from non-readers,
GED preparation through vocational and post-secondary
education), fiction, non-fiction, general reference materials,
magazines and newspapers are provided in a variety of reading
levels, formats and subjects.
The Offender Libraries provide significant
support for the education programs and can be instrumental in
the educational achievement of offenders. Access to a variety of
materials at appropriate reading levels offers offenders an
opportunity to practice and reinforce what they learn in the
classroom and provides them with an opportunity to increase or
supplement their education through self-study and self-directed
reading.
Rehabilitation of
Substance Abuse
Treatment Programs
Materials are provided which support the
rehabilitation programs offered in the institutions, including
self-help, drug and alcohol abuse prevention/treatment, etc.
Legal Access
Programs
As mandated by the U.S. Supreme Court in
Lewis v. Casey, ADC provides offenders with access to the courts
for qualified legal claims. Qualified legal claims are defined
as those involving direct appeals from the conviction for which
offenders are incarcerated, habeas corpus petitions, civil
rights actions, or cases involving conditions for confinement.
To facilitate legal access, basic legal reference materials,
legal forms and assistance by contract paralegals are provided.
The legal reference materials and forms are located in the
Offender Libraries and CDU's. Visits between contract paralegals
and offenders may also take place in the library.
Life Skills/Transition/Pre-Release
Programs
Materials on basic survival skills required
by offenders to successfully reenter society are provided. This
may include, but not limited to, information on community
resources, parenting skills, occupations, job opportunities,
resume writing, interviewing skills, educational and vocational
training opportunities on the outside, housing, welfare, banking
skills, etc.
Other Programs
Materials that support other programs in the
facilities are basic health information on common diseases,
conditions and health concerns, and religious materials are
provided.
DONATIONS TO ADC OFFENDER LIBRARIES
If anyone would like to donate materials to
the Offender Libraries, they may do so. Donations to Offender
Libraries can be considered as a charitable contribution for tax
purposes. However, ADC accepts donated materials with the
understanding that they will be added to the Offender Libraries
using the same criteria and processes as materials that are
purchased.
Selection
Criteria
Materials that meet the mission of the
Offender Libraries are preferred (see above).
Security is the primary consideration when
selecting materials for the Offender Libraries. Materials must
in no way undermine the basic objectives of the institutions,
nor jeopardize the safety of the institution, offenders, staff
or the public. Therefore, ADC staff will review all donations
before they are added to the library and retain the right to
refuse any donation that does not adhere to the Department's policies and procedures, or that is considered inappropriate
for inclusion in the Offender Library. Materials considered
inappropriate for inclusion in the Offender Library may include:
Materials that can be considered obscene
as defined in A.R.S. 13-3501 et. seq.
Materials that could be used as an aid to
escape.
Materials that contain information which
could be used to help an offender disguise or alter their
appearance.
Any written, graphic, audio, visual or
pictorial information pertaining to the construction,
formulation, utilization or application of weapons,
explosives, poisons, alcohol, or other substances or
materials that could cause physical harm, aid in an escape,
or case or contribute to institutional disturbances.
Any materials that may otherwise be
considered as contraband.
Materials with sharp edges or with metal
spiral binding.
Donation
Procedures
For donations of general reading materials
(e.g., fiction, non-fiction, reference books, magazines, etc.)
Donors may do one of the following:
1) Contact the Correctional Education
Program Supervisor or Correctional Education Program Manager
at one of the nearest
prison
complexes. If donors would like to donate
materials to a specific unit, ask the person responsible for
supervising the library in that unit. They will make arrange
to accept the donation.
2) Contact Jennie O'Leary, Coordinator of Library Services, (602)
271-7600, ext 239,
joleary@azcorrections.gov She will make
arrangements to have an ADC facility with the most need
accept the donation.
* For donation of religious materials,
contact Michael Linderman, Administrator, Pastoral
Services (602) 542-3090,
mlinder@azcorrections.gov.
Any person or entity wanting to donate
materials to and ADC offender Library must obtain the Offer of
Donation Form, 301-1P from the institution they will be donating
materials to or from Jennie O=
Leary, Coordinator of Library Services, (602) 271-7600, ext 239,
joleary@azcorrections.gov Donors should be sure to
be complete in filling out the form.
Note: If donors would like to specify
any restriction(s) on the donation, (e.g., have the
materials go to a specific institution or unit) check the
applicable choice(s) on the Offer of Donation form.
Restricted donations must be approved by the Director prior
to acceptance.
Determine the estimated value of the
donation(s).
Identify (describe) the item(s) being donated.
The form should be returned to the
institution the materials are being donated to, or sent to
Jennie O'Leary, Coordinator of Library Services, 3701 West
Cambridge Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85009. Because of lack
of storage space, delivery of donations will not be accepted at
this address unless approved prior to delivery by Ms. O'Leary.
If they prefer, donors may ask to have the
donation returned to them if ADC staff decide that the materials
are not appropriate for inclusion to the offender Library.
Otherwise, staff will dispose of donated materials as they feel
appropriate. ADC staff will see that the donor receives a copy
of the Offer of Donations Form, 301-1P for tax purposes.
If there are any questions about the Arizona
Department of Corrections Offender Libraries, or about donating
materials, contact Jennie O'Leary, Coordinator of Library
Services. (602) 272-7600, ext 239,
joleary@azcorrections.gov.
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