In Bolivia, Prisoners Can Reduce Jail Time by Reading Books

Prisoners in Bolivia have been given a new way to reduce their jail time. They can gain freedom earlier by reading books.

The government program is called "books behind bars." It offers detainees a chance to get out of jail days or weeks ahead of their release date. The program is modeled after a similar effort in Brazil. The aim is to improve reading ability. It is also meant to give hope to inmates² who face Bolivia's slow judicial³ process.

The program has been launched in 47 prisons that do not have money to pay for education or social assistance programs for prisoners.

So far, 865 inmates are taking part in the program. One of them is Jaqueline. She has already read eight books in a year and has passed four reading tests.

"It is really hard for people like us who have no income and who do not have family outside," Jaqueline said. "There are people here, for example, who are just learning how to read and write."

Nadia Cruz is with Bolivia's Ombudsman's office. She said the aim is to encourage inmates waiting for the trial process to begin.

The group Human Rights Watch says the country's prisons and jails are overcrowded and unhealthy. Some detainees have protested over the lack of health care.

With these difficulties, learning to read can be like escaping the prison walls, at least for the mind. That is the case for Mildred, an inmate¹ at the Obrajes women's prison in capital of La Paz.

"When I read, I am in contact with the whole universe," Mildred said. "The walls and bars disappear."

Words in This Story

inmate –n. a person who is kept in a prison or mental hospital

income –n. money that is earned from work, investments or business

ombudsman –n. a person (such as a government official or an employee) who investigates reported problems and tries to deal with problems fairly

encourage –v. to make (someone) more determined, hopeful, or sure of what they are doing

1 inmate   

n.被收容者；(房屋等的)居住人；住院人

参考例句：

• I am an inmate of that hospital.我住在那家医院。
• The prisoner is his inmate.那个囚犯和他同住一起。

2 inmates   

n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• One of the inmates has escaped. 被收容的人中有一个逃跑了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The inmates were moved to an undisclosed location. 监狱里的囚犯被转移到一个秘密处所。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 judicial   

adj.司法的，法庭的，审判的，明断的，公正的

参考例句：

• He is a man with a judicial mind.他是个公正的人。
• Tom takes judicial proceedings against his father.汤姆对他的父亲正式提出诉讼。