"Read a Book, Get out of Jail"

This is a wonderful story from the NYTimes Book Review about:

 "Changing Lives Through Literature," an alternative sentencing program that allows felons and other offenders to choose between going to jail or joining a book club.

[...]

“I don’t want to be all negative,” the officer begins, “but you have to read this book.” Not as in “This is a must-read,” but “We’ve had people go to jail for not reading.”