STATE OF WASHINGTON

DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
P. 0. BOX 41100 . Olympia, Washington 98504-1100

April 10, 2019

TO: Superintendents
All Mailroom Sergeants
Property Room Sergeants

a. It;
FROM: Ro Herzog,
Assistant Secretary Prisons

RE: Publications

Effective immediately this memorandum supersedes and replaces my memo concerning used
publications dated March 12, 2019. The department will once again accept used book donations
from approved non-profit vendors and organizations from which you previously received for
both individual incarcerated persons and groups. Concerns about contraband introduction led me
to issue the original directive. After conducting further review, the data does not support
continuing the restriction on donated used books. I am now reaf?rming that the department will
continue to support the receipt of donated used books. The continued access to donated books
will support the goal of increased literacy, educational pursuits and appropriate idle time activity.

Each facility is directed to revisit, strengthen where needed and establish strong practices to
ensure an inspection/search of every donated book. DOC 450.100 Mail for Prison Offenders and
420.375 Contraband and Evidence Handling (restricted) de?ne the process for rejection of a
publication and managing any discovered contraband. DOC 450.100 Mail for Prison Offenders
will be updated to re?ect local parameters are established for the receipt, search and issuance of
used books.

Effective immediately all prisons will allow books to be donated to the facility if coming

from one of the approved non-pro?t organizations identified in the attached ?Approved
Non-Pro?t Used Book Vendors.?

?Working Together for SAFE Communities?

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In the future when a Superintendent receives a request from a new non-pro?t used book
organization requesting to send books to individual incarcerated persons, please forward to the
Headquarters Correction Manager Roy Gonzalez. This will streamline procedures to apply
consistent criteria when evaluating the request from an organization. Current policy allows for
the superintendent to approve or deny non?pro?t vendors. That practice will remain in effect.

One area needing to be strengthened is department communication with our approved non?pro?t
vendors. Department representatives and I will be speaking with our approved non?profit
vendors to discuss safe guards that should be in place before mailing a book to a prison. Prisons
leadership will reach out to each of the approved vendors informing them of the approval to
again begin sending books to the incarcerated.

If you have any clarifying questions please direct them to myself.


cc: Jeremy Barclay, Director Engagement and Outreach
Scott Russell, Deputy Director Command A
Eleanor Vernell, Deputy Director Command 
Tomas Fithian, Deputy Director Command 
Belinda Stewart, Correctional Programs Administrator
Roy Gonzalez, Corrections Manager
Tracy Schneider, Correctional Specialist 3
Billie Peterson, Program Manager Policy Office
Loretta Taylor, Administrator Educational Services

   
 

Department of



Approved Non-Profit Used Book Vendors

Books to Prisoners/Left Bank Books
Books through Bars

Women?s Prison Book Project

Prisoners Library Project