"Justice and Unity for the Southern Tier (JUST) is a community organization dedicated to dismantling mass incarceration and mass policing in the Southern Tier. JUST works to prevent abuse and deaths in our county jail, reduce the rate of incarceration, and develop alternatives to incarceration. JUST advocates for currently and previously incarcerated persons, their families and loved ones, through direct support, community education, political action, public protest, and legal action to address abusive, neglectful, and discriminatory practices in the jail and justice system.  JUST advocates for change in social conditions and institutions that contribute to mass incarceration, including poverty, racism, the criminalization of persons with disabilities, and the school-to-prison pipeline. JUST collaborates with other organizations to promote rehabilitation, education, and persistent community engagement as alternatives to incarceration that enable individuals to be contributing members of society."

You can read and learn more about JUST's efforts directly on their website.

"Books over Walls is a JUST program that sends books of choice to those incarcerated in the Broome County Jail. Over a thousand books have been sent in over the last few years. Anyone inside can order one book every month at or under $15.00. Costs are covered by donations from the public, and all donations go towards purchasing books which must be ordered from an approved online vendor—we can’t just mail in books. Faith groups, grants, faculty, and individuals have all donated.  Incarcerated individuals in the Broome County Jail are trapped with few resources, often for years. Given the jail’s pitifully small, difficult-to-access “library,” books are a coveted resource."

You can donate directly to the Books Over Walls program and ensure people in the Broome County Jail have something to read.