The UT Law Civil Rights Clinic, in partnership with the Civil Rights Clinic at Texas A&M University School of Law and Lioness Justice Impacted Alliance, published a report in 2024 revealing how Texas’ restrictions on certain books and material in Texas Department of Criminal Justice facilities impact people who are incarcerated, particularly women and LGBTQ+ individuals. The report found that such heavy-handed censorship prevents people who are incarcerated from accessing material to support their education and personal development. The report explains how the restrictions have been tightened in the last few decades, the wide discretion given to prison officials who can block such material, and how the lives of people who are incarcerated could be improved by having access to these books. Finally, the report recommends Texas make changes to how content restrictions are determined and create more accountability and transparency in the process.
Bound Knowledge: The Impact of Book Bans on Incarcerated Women and LGBTQIA+ People in Texas 2024
Category: Cases and Projects