Brazilian prisoners' sentences reduced for reading books


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Prisoners in Brazilian jails are being given a great incentive to read. Willing bookworms can reduce their sentences by 48 days per year by reading a book a month.

Brazil has launched an unusual prison program dubbed "Redemption Through Reading." Eligible inmates will be chosen by a panel and then allowed to select their book of choice from a range of classic literature, philosophy of science.

The Guardian reported inmates will be required to write an essay that must "make correct use of paragraphs, be free of corrections, use margins and legible joined-up writing" when they have absorbed the contents. Each inmate will have four weeks to read a book and write the essay.

According to the New York Daily News the program will receive independent book donations to keep the prisoners supplied. Lawyer Andre Kehdi, who heads a project that donates books to prisons, said "a person can leave prison more enlightened and with an enlarged vision of the world." He added "Without doubt they will leave a better person."

Although a reading list has not yet been released ideal recommendations to task the inmates would be Dostoyevsky's "Crime and Punishment", Henri Charri?re's "Papillon" and Tolstoy's "Resurrection."

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And I assume that the prison will also teach the required reading and writing skills to be able to complete these essays?

Good incentive for thugs to stay in school though - The teacher can say that if they learn how to read and write they can get out sooner if they wind up in prison.

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