Read Banned People Week
October 4–10, 2026

Lift up incarcerated voices.

A celebration of literature written by those who were written off.

During October 4–10,
lift up silenced voices by reading books written by the incarcerated.
When you choose to
read banned people,
you’re choosing to
give them hope.

Here’s How It Works

Come to one of the five participating bookstores during Read Banned People Week (Oct. 4–10).

Support independent bookstores by purchasing a banned or challenged book and show us your new read at our vendor table.

Gain an entry into our raffle, with gifts from Norman + OKC businesses. You can also buy merch, or donate $10 for entry.

The Bookstores

  • Bookish

    Sunday, October 4

    1005 NW 36th St, Oklahoma City, OK 73118

  • Last Page Bookstore

    Thursday, October 8

    222 N Broadway Ave, Moore, OK 73160

  • The Lore

    Friday, October 9

    220 S Porter Ave, Norman, OK 73071

  • Second Story Books

    Saturday, October 10

    718 Culbertson Dr, Oklahoma City, OK 73105

Bookish

 

The Lore

 

Last Page

 

Second Story

 

Meet Our Donors:

Who will win the raffle?

  • Slice Sweet Shop

  • Bloom Medical Aesthetics

  • Main Street Pottery

  • Re:Supply Low Waste Living

  • Dough Vinci

  • Sooner Daiquiri Bar and Grill

  • Forward Foods

FAQ

  • Simply contact us at info@crimeandcompassion.com to set up a donation for our raffle.

  • People can either donate $10 to get an entry (no maximum entries) or purchase a banned or challenged book from the bookstore we are at for the day to get an entry into the raffle. They can also purchase a shirt for 3 entries, or one of our students’ books for 2 entries. 

  • A banned book means the book is pulled from shelves or access is denied in public schools, libraries, or school reading lists.

    Now imagine how it feels to be incarcerated and the feelings of rejection that come with writing and publishing your first book.

Follow Crime & Compassion Inc.
#readbannedpeople

At its heart, our movement is built around a simple idea:

The freedom to read is incomplete without the freedom to be heard.

Created by Crime & Compassion Inc., Read Banned People Week is a movement held in conjunction with Banned Books Week that celebrates the freedom to read while amplifying the voices and creative work of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated writers.

Throughout the week, Crime & Compassion Inc. is partnering with five local bookstores for community pop-up events designed to bring readers, writers, booksellers, and advocates together.

Visitors can support the 5 participating bookstores by purchasing banned and challenged books, discover writing by incarcerated and formerly incarcerated authors, learn about Crime & Compassion Inc.’s work inside Oklahoma prisons, shop READ BANNED PEOPLE merchandise, and participate in a community raffle benefiting our nonprofit’s writing, mentorship, and publication programs.

However you support our nonprofit’s mission, you’re helping make room for voices too often ignored. You’re bringing hope to the incarcerated and showing them compassion.

Read banned books. Read banned people.

Quick

Info

What programs does Crime & Compassion Inc. offer?

We provide two writing programs inside Mabel Bassett Correctional Center in McLoud, Oklahoma: Writers Guild Advanced, which is for novels, and Writers Guild Beginners, which is for short stories.

If you’d like to volunteer with us, please fill out an application here.

Who owns the rights to the published books?

Our incarcerated students retain all right to their stories. C&C is not the publisher—they are.

Published novelists retain all royalties and must donate at least 10% to a victim advocacy nonprofit of their choice.

Short stories are published in an annual anthology, and the royalties go right back into the program.

Contact Us