LONDON, Jan. 27 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news:

* AuthorLee Child announcedas first ever Prison Reading Laureate * Role willboostprisoner'literacy skills tohelpreduce reoffending * Initiative part of National Year of Reading 2026, part of Plan for Change

Prisonersare beinggiven the chance to start a new chapteraway from crimewith the launch ofthe first everPrison Reading Laureate.

Author Lee Child best knownfor theJackReacher book series willbe the inauguralholder of therole,created tochampionthe importance ofliteracy skillsinhelpingprevent prisonersfromreoffending.

It comes asdata showsmore thantwo-thirdsof prisoners enterprisonwith reading levels below GCSE standard-many at primary school level. This cancreatemajorbarrierstolivingcrime-free lives,such as being unabletosecurea job on release.

The creation of the laureate builds on Government action to ensure prisons deliverpunishment that cuts crime and produce better citizens, and not criminals - helping to make our streets safer.

Prisons Minister, Lord Timpson, said:

We know the crucial role education,including learning key skills like reading,can play in helping offenders turn their lives around.

I would like to thank Lee Child for the inspiring work he continues to do in our prisons. The Prison Reading Laureate will be a powerful influence,boostingoureffortstobreak the cycle of reoffending and createsaferstreets.

Author Lee Child said:

Thisisn'tabout being soft on crime,it'sabout being smart. Improving literacy is an evidence-based, practical approach that works. When people leave prison better equipped to read and learn,they'reless likely to reoffend. That makes communities safer for everyone.

Today's announcement forms part of the National Year of Reading, a UK-wide campaign Department of Education and the National Literacy Trust to help millions of families, children and communitiesbenefitfrom the power of reading.

Eachyear thechosen laureate will bring their own passion and experience to the role, with the freedom topromotespecific areas such as supporting children of prisoners, creative writing, or post-release employment in publishing.

MrChildwill initially focus on the expansion of his successful literacy pilot programmewhich has been running ina number ofprisons since2025in partnership with MP Paul Davies.It will includebringing in more authorsto work with prisons across the country andpromoting the benefits of readingtorehabilitation.

Background

Key delivery partners for prison literacy include:

* Shannon Trust: Expanding peer-to-peer reading support in prisons using the Turning Pages programme * National Literacy Trust: Running monthly workshops including reading groups, creative writing sessions, spokenwordand storytelling workshops for children * Bang-Up Books: Has distributed over 150,000 books to more than 100 prisons * Prison Reading Groups: Delivering monthly book groups, family reading days and creative reading projects across approximately 80 prisons. Throughout the year theywill continue their work with ongoing opportunities to read regularly together and improve access to free books * Storybook Mums and Dads: Enabling imprisoned parents to record audio and video of themselves reading stories for their children * The Reading Agency's Quick Reads books will be used throughout the year, makinggreat storiesgenuinely accessible to every reader and celebrating exciting campaign moments like World Book Night.

Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.