Books, what can’t they do? In Michigan they’ve found a new use! The Michigan Department of Corrections recently discovered an operation that allegedly was preparing to smuggle drugs into the state prison in the bindings of books checked out from a Grand Rapids Public Library, according to court documents.
For guards, it’s a new chapter in the war on prison drug-smuggling.
“They’re certainly clever, but this was a new one, that’s for sure,” said State Police Trooper Matt Rogers of the Rockford post, who helped investigate the Grand Rapids connection. “They’ve got all day to think about that stuff. They’ve got nothing but time.”
No hardbacks
As a side hobby I sell books online. Recently I had an order to a prison. I mailed the book and it came book stamped “no hardbacks” possible because of the type of problems that were mentioned in this story.
Some prisons will not allow inmates to receive any books, at least from online sellers. I have had enough problems with prison orders that if I get another I will probably cancel the transaction and issue a refund.
books to hide you drugs in
Bad: “Soul on Ice”, “Steal This Book”, “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas”, “The Anarchists’ Cookbook”
Good: the Bible, a GED study guide, “The Billy Graham Story”, anything from the Oprah book club, board books.
Re:No hardbacks
There’s another reason too. Most people would be surprised to find out that a resourceful prisoner can make a weapon out of the board that covers a hardback book. That stuff can actually be made into a stabbing weapon. It’s not great for multiple uses, but it can get the job done if plunged into an unprotected area like the neck.
Besides, hardbacks are, well, hard. You can bash someone pretty good with a hardback in its unmodified form. Hell, give me a hardback Michener novel and I could kill a full grown man.
Re:No hardbacks
Why is this posted as “news”? It’s been the rule in California state prisons for at least 20 years. No hardback books. Also all books must come directly from a bookstore.