IDOC RELAXES BOOK VENDOR RESTRICTIONS
In April 2021 IDOC administrators banned books from the most common sources (see the [grammatically incorrect] posting ALL AMAZON PRODUCTS FORBIDDEN FROM IDAHO STATE CORRECTIONAL CENTER on this site).
On July 13, 2022, Chad Page, the Chief of Prisons sent an email to all prisoners expanding the list of approved vendors for books. Although the new memo left out one of the previously approved vendors (Thrift Books), property staff have verified that Thrift Books is still an approved vendor.
Below is the email/memo as provided to the prisoner population on July 13, 2022:
Resident Population - All Facilities
Re: Approved Vendors for Books
Recently we completed a review of the vendors we had approved for books. We have received a lot of feedback that the vendor list was too short and needed expansion. Due to that feedback, we have researched vendors for books with the objective of increasing the options available. After review the following vendors have been approved:
> Edward R Hamilton
> Discover Books
> More than Words
> Prison Book Program
> Books a Million
> Books N Things
> Sure Shot Books
> The Womens Prison Book Project
Religious publications If books are sent in through a religious ministry, the ministry must be listed as the publisher.
Educational textbooks Facility Education departments will assist residents with the purchasing of necessary textbooks for course work.
Chad Page
Chief of Prisons