Program Connects Incarcerated Parents With Children

A new initiative in South Carolina helps parents in prison maintain reading bonds with their kids.

Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Child Care

Gouache-painted illustration of an open hardcover children's book on a wooden surface, evoking a sense of quiet connection and storytelling. — A new initiative developed by Furman University, Riley's Readers, enables incarcerated parents in South Carolina to record themselves reading to their children to preserve family bonds. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should prisons implement programs designed to help incarcerated parents maintain bonds with their children?

Riley's Readers, a program developed by Furman University, allows incarcerated parents to record themselves reading books for their children. This initiative aims to reduce the emotional strain that physical separation places on families across South Carolina.

Why it matters

Incarceration creates significant physical and emotional barriers between parents and children. By providing a medium for shared storytelling, the program seeks to maintain family connection and literacy despite the challenges of confinement.

Program participation includes more than 500 inmates at the Livesay Correctional Institution, with over 1,500 books delivered to children to date. These figures represent the reach of the initiative, though its long-term psychological effects on participants are not yet fully measured.

The players

Riley Institute

An academic center at Furman University focused on public policy and community engagement.

Furman University

A higher education institution in Greenville that created the initiative.

Livesay Correctional Institution

A state-run correctional facility in Spartanburg County where the program is active.

The details

At the Livesay Correctional Institution in Spartanburg County, inmates choose a book and record themselves reading the text aloud. Staff facilitate the process by coordinating the recordings and ensuring the materials reach the children at home. This service, funded by a state grant, is provided at no cost to participating families.

September 29, 2026: Program details were formally documented.

Health Landscape

This program reflects a broader trend of utilizing community-led initiatives to address the collateral health and social impacts of parental incarceration. It marks a departure from purely punitive models by centering family connection as a core component of well-being.

For families navigating the stress of parental separation due to incarceration, maintaining routine connection points can offer emotional stability. Families interested in similar support resources should consult with local social service agencies or correctional facility staff.

The takeaway

Maintaining consistent communication through shared activities like reading can help preserve parental bonds during periods of separation. Families dealing with the stress of incarceration are encouraged to ask facility administration about available communication and support programs.