A new chapter of hope is being written inside the walls of the Camden County Juvenile Detention Facility in Blackwood. This month, the nonprofit Freedom Reads, a nationally recognized organization devoted to transforming lives through the power of literature, installed five new lending libraries for incarcerated youth. Each carefully curated shelf is more than a collection of books—it is an invitation to imagine a different future.
The installation is part of Freedom Reads’ broader mission to bring world-class libraries to prisons, detention centers, and correctional facilities across the country. In Camden County, the effort has taken on special significance, serving a population of young people who are often disconnected from opportunity and possibility. By introducing stories that inspire resilience, creativity, and critical thinking, the libraries aim to plant seeds of hope in an environment where it is often in short supply.
At the Blackwood facility, the newly placed libraries are designed to be welcoming spaces. They are accessible, visually striking, and filled with diverse titles that resonate with young readers. Freedom Reads curates its selections to include works that reflect different backgrounds and lived experiences, ranging from contemporary fiction and poetry to classics that explore universal themes of struggle, redemption, and possibility. For incarcerated youth, who may not always see themselves reflected in traditional educational settings, these stories can serve as powerful mirrors and windows—mirrors that reflect their own lives and windows that open onto new worlds.
The organization was founded by Reginald Dwayne Betts, a poet and lawyer who himself was incarcerated as a teenager and experienced firsthand the transformative role literature can play. Through Freedom Reads, Betts has sought to make books available to those still behind bars, building libraries that stand as symbols of dignity and self-worth.
Local officials and advocates in Camden County have praised the project, noting how it aligns with broader efforts to reduce recidivism and create healthier outcomes for young people in the justice system. Access to education and literacy resources has long been shown to play a role in breaking cycles of incarceration, giving individuals tools to re-enter society with stronger skills and more confidence.
The libraries also reflect Camden County’s growing emphasis on community partnerships. By working with nonprofit organizations like Freedom Reads, the county is reinforcing its commitment to restorative justice and youth empowerment. For many young people housed in the Blackwood facility, the chance to pick up a book, explore a new idea, or relate to an author’s journey can be a pivotal moment in reimagining what their own lives might become.
Across South Jersey, communities are finding new ways to connect art, culture, and education with public service initiatives. Programs like this one remind us that hope and opportunity can take root anywhere, even in the most unlikely of places. To explore more stories of innovation and community impact in the region, visit Explore New Jersey’s South Jersey section.
What Freedom Reads has brought to Camden County is more than a library—it is a reminder that every young person, no matter their circumstance, deserves access to stories that inspire and the tools to write their own next chapter.
