Reading on the Row
The book images featured on this page are just some of the books that have been requested by death row prisoners.
Co-founded by DPAA and Arizona death row prisoner Aaron Gunches, Reading on the Row is a lifeline for incarcerated individuals seeking education, emotional relief, and mental health support through books.
Aaron Gunches, executed on March 19, 2025, was more than just a name on Arizona’s death row. He was a friend, a brother, and a son—someone who found refuge, purpose, and transformation through reading. A devoted fan of fantasy and science fiction, Aaron used books to cope with the harsh realities of incarceration and chronic pain. Together, we launched this program as a form of mutual aid, healing, and hope.
The Need
Incarcerated individuals on death row in Arizona have extremely limited access to meaningful reading materials. While prison libraries exist, they are often outdated and insufficient, especially for those seeking trauma recovery, educational growth, or simply a mental escape.
Books like The Body Keeps the Score and What Happened to You? have helped participants process the trauma of incarceration, build coping skills, and foster emotional resilience. Fiction genres like adventure and fantasy also offer a much-needed reprieve from the isolating conditions of death row.
Our Impact
Since launching in November 2022, Reading on the Row has delivered over hundreds books to incarcerated people in Perryville, Florence, and Tucson prisons. Thanks to the vision and partnership of Aaron Gunches, the program now reaches nearly 25% of Arizona’s death row population, offering:
New, high-quality books tailored to personal interests and educational needs
Resources for mental health and trauma recovery
Support for self-directed education and rehabilitation
Connection and dignity through consistent, personalized outreach
Why Your Donation Matters
Arizona state prisons do not accept discounted books from online resalers. All books must be purchased new from approved retailers like Barnes & Noble, which significantly increases the cost of getting materials inside. We continue to work to build relationships with prisons to supply donated used books to the death row prison population. With our first drive in 2025.
Your donation goes 100% toward purchasing and sending books—there are no administrative fees. Every dollar directly supports someone living under a death sentence, helping them reclaim a small piece of humanity through learning and imagination.
A Legacy of Pages and Purpose
Reading on the Row continues in honor of Aaron Gunches—his love of books, his self-driven rehabilitation, and his desire to bring light into the lives of others. Every book we send is a tribute to that mission.
Help us continue this work.
Aaron Gunches
June 30th 1971 -
March 19th, 2025
Every donation helps fund DPAA’s ongoing mission by covering the cost of books and shipping to individuals on Arizona’s death row. 100% of proceeds go directly to getting reading materials into the hands of those who need them most.
