Omaha police will be carrying books to distribute to traumatised children they encounter. This is being viewed as a crime prevention tool because literate children get in less trouble with the law (their claim, not mine). They also expect it to increase literacy rates-which sounds like a bit of a stretch unless they spend a lot of time with a particular child and end up building the kid a home library. I can however, appreciate the irony of the organisation sponsoring the program having the acronym, REACH. Yes, yes it is indeed.
People have this magical idea about books-that somehow just being in possession of one ensures an end to all problems. I say this as someone with a rather extensive home library.
What’s more, I really, really, really hope they aren’t (because they mentioned it) handing out copies of a book called "Hug Me" to rape victims.