Incarcerated Readers in Maryland Cast Votes for Nation’s First Literary Prize Judged Exclusively by Incarcerated People

Freedom Reads, the national nonprofit dedicated to increasing access to literature in prisons, visited Maryland this week as part of a six-state tour for the 2026 Inside Literary Prize — the first literary prize in the United States awarded exclusively by currently incarcerated people. Events took place at Jessup Correctional Institution (JCI) on Tuesday, July 14, and Maryland Correctional Institution for Women (MCI-W) on Wednesday, July 15. Maryland marks the second-to-last stop on the tour, which will conclude next week in Massachusetts.

At each facility, incarcerated judges gathered to discuss the shortlisted books, then cast their votes for the prize winner.

The Inside Literary Prize is organized by Freedom Reads in partnership with the National Book Foundation, and the Center for Justice Innovation with support from Interabang Books co-owner Lori Feathers. Across the six-state tour, hundreds of incarcerated readers will participate in discussions and voting. The winner will be announced in August 2026.

About the Inside Literary Prize

The Inside Literary Prize is the first US-based literary prize awarded exclusively by currently incarcerated people. The 2026 Prize is organized by Freedom Reads, the National Book Foundation, and the Center for Justice Innovation. The winner will be announced in August 2026.