Prison sentences could turn into death sentences amid the coronavirus pandemic, experts say. Mass releases could be the best strategy to save thousands of lives.

Advertisement
Prison sentences could turn into death sentences amid the coronavirus pandemic, experts say. Mass releases could be the best strategy to save thousands of lives.
Inside US prisons

Lucy Nicholson/Reuters

Advertisement
Advertisement

Marvin Caldwell, 63, looks out of his cell at San Quentin state prison in California on June 8, 2012.

  • Disease spreads rapidly in jails since people are living in tight spaces, which makes the coronavirus pandemic a serious issue for US federal prisons.
  • Of the 146,000 inmates in US federal prisons, about 10,000 are over 60, an age group the CDC deems high-risk for severe and potentially fatal cases.
  • To combat the spread of the novel coronavirus, some US city jails, like Rikers Island in New York, are releasing select inmates over the age of 70 who are particularly high-risk for COVID-19, and President Donald Trump recently announced that he is considering implementing a similar policy on a federal level.
  • Here's why a mass release of federal inmates might be the best strategy to save thousands of lives.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
{{}}

There are about 146,000 inmates in US federal prisons. About 10,000 of those are over the age of 60, which the CDC deems high-risk for severe cases of the coronavirus.

There are about 146,000 inmates in US federal prisons. About 10,000 of those are over the age of 60, which the CDC deems high-risk for severe cases of the coronavirus.

Source: Business Insider

For decades, health officials have warned that jails and prisons are ideal environments for virus outbreaks.

For decades, health officials have warned that jails and prisons are ideal environments for virus outbreaks.

Source: Business Insider

Advertisement

Dr. Burton Bentley II, an emergency medicine physician and founder of the consulting firm Elite Medical Experts, told Business Insider that the confines of US prisons are often "fertile grounds for infectious disease" because of how tightly packed they are.

Dr. Burton Bentley II, an emergency medicine physician and founder of the consulting firm Elite Medical Experts, told Business Insider that the confines of US prisons are often "fertile grounds for infectious disease" because of how tightly packed they are.

Source: Business Insider

Josiah Rich, professor of medicine and epidemiology at Brown University, Scott Allen, professor of medicine emeritus at the University of California at Riverside, and Mavis Nimoh, executive director of the Center for Prisoner Health and Human Rights at the Miriam Hospital, wrote an opinion piece for the Washington Post stating that releasing prisoners is necessary to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

Josiah Rich, professor of medicine and epidemiology at Brown University, Scott Allen, professor of medicine emeritus at the University of California at Riverside, and Mavis Nimoh, executive director of the Center for Prisoner Health and Human Rights at the Miriam Hospital, wrote an opinion piece for the Washington Post stating that releasing prisoners is necessary to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

Source: The Washington Post

Advertisement

David E. Patton, head of the federal public defender's office in New York, backed this in conversation with the New York Times. He said, "by keeping more people in the jails, you are increasing the overall number of people who contract the virus ... they are playing roulette with people's lives."

David E. Patton, head of the federal public defender's office in New York, backed this in conversation with the New York Times. He said, "by keeping more people in the jails, you are increasing the overall number of people who contract the virus ... they are playing roulette with people's lives."

Source: The New York Times

Many inmates share living spaces with toilets just a few feet away from where they sleep.

Many inmates share living spaces with toilets just a few feet away from where they sleep.

Source: Business Insider

Advertisement

At a minimum-security federal prison in Bennettsville, South Carolina, a correctional officer said inmates spend hours each day in rooms together where nearly 250 people could be gathered with no more than three feet between them.

At a minimum-security federal prison in Bennettsville, South Carolina, a correctional officer said inmates spend hours each day in rooms together where nearly 250 people could be gathered with no more than three feet between them.

Source: Business Insider

In response to the coronavirus crisis, Attorney General William Barr said the Justice Department takes its responsibility for its inmates seriously.

In response to the coronavirus crisis, Attorney General William Barr said the Justice Department takes its responsibility for its inmates seriously.

Source: Business Insider

Advertisement

"We want to make sure that our institutions don't become Petri dishes," he said in a press conference at Main Justice in Washington, DC, on March 26. "But we have the protocols that are designed to stop that, and we are using all the tools we have to protect the inmates."

"We want to make sure that our institutions don't become Petri dishes," he said in a press conference at Main Justice in Washington, DC, on March 26. "But we have the protocols that are designed to stop that, and we are using all the tools we have to protect the inmates."

Source: Business Insider

Barr also sent a statement to the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) saying that nonviolent, at-risk prisoners "might be safer serving their sentences in home confinement rather than in BOP facilities."

Barr also sent a statement to the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) saying that nonviolent, at-risk prisoners "might be safer serving their sentences in home confinement rather than in BOP facilities."

Source: Business Insider

Advertisement

On March 17, Iran temporarily released 54,000 people from prison to prevent further spread of the virus, and some US cities followed suit.

On March 17, Iran temporarily released 54,000 people from prison to prevent further spread of the virus, and some US cities followed suit.

Source: Business Insider, Business Insider

Several local governments across the US released thousands of elderly and low-level inmates to prevent further spread of the coronavirus in states like Texas, California, and New York.

Several local governments across the US released thousands of elderly and low-level inmates to prevent further spread of the coronavirus in states like Texas, California, and New York.

Source: Business Insider

Advertisement

On March 22, President Donald Trump said that he's considering releasing elderly, nonviolent prisoners from federal prisons.

On March 22, President Donald Trump said that he's considering releasing elderly, nonviolent prisoners from federal prisons.

Source: Business Insider

On March 29, NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio announced his plan to release around 300 select city jail inmates over the age of 70 who have at least five pre-existing conditions making them high-risk for becoming infected with a severe case of the coronavirus, not including inmates with domestic violence or sexual offense charges.

On March 29, NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio announced his plan to release around 300 select city jail inmates over the age of 70 who have at least five pre-existing conditions making them high-risk for becoming infected with a severe case of the coronavirus, not including inmates with domestic violence or sexual offense charges.

Source: Business Insider

Advertisement

The inmates being released had less than a year left to serve at Rikers Island, one of the biggest jails in the world. The city's Department of Correction said 17 employees and 29 inmates there tested positive for the coronavirus on March 22.

The inmates being released had less than a year left to serve at Rikers Island, one of the biggest jails in the world. The city's Department of Correction said 17 employees and 29 inmates there tested positive for the coronavirus on March 22.

Source: Business Insider, New York Post

There are about 7,000 inmates at Riker's Island, and the Department of Justice reported poor living conditions within the facility, including abuse and violence, in 2014.

There are about 7,000 inmates at Riker's Island, and the Department of Justice reported poor living conditions within the facility, including abuse and violence, in 2014.

Source: Insider

Advertisement

The New York Department of Correction told correction officers to follow "basic flu protocols such as covering nose/mouth when coughing or sneezing and washing hands frequently," in a statement.

The New York Department of Correction told correction officers to follow "basic flu protocols such as covering nose/mouth when coughing or sneezing and washing hands frequently," in a statement.

Source: Business Insider

This is nearly impossible for some. A staff member at a federal jail in South Carolina said staff restrooms are running out of soap.

This is nearly impossible for some. A staff member at a federal jail in South Carolina said staff restrooms are running out of soap.

Source: Business Insider

Advertisement

Jack Donson, who worked for the US Bureau of Prisons for more than 20 years, told Business Insider if an outbreak happens in the federal system, it likely won't be because of lack of procedure, but rather because it wasn't carried out.

Jack Donson, who worked for the US Bureau of Prisons for more than 20 years, told Business Insider if an outbreak happens in the federal system, it likely won't be because of lack of procedure, but rather because it wasn't carried out.

Source: Business Insider

Inmates entering the federal prison system are supposed to be screened for coronavirus risk factors, checked for fever, and quarantined for 14 days.

Inmates entering the federal prison system are supposed to be screened for coronavirus risk factors, checked for fever, and quarantined for 14 days.

Source: Business Insider

Advertisement

But inmates and advocates told the Associated Press that some inmates at the FCI Yazoo City in Mississippi and at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York were not tested or quarantined. There are confirmed cases at both facilities.

But inmates and advocates told the Associated Press that some inmates at the FCI Yazoo City in Mississippi and at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York were not tested or quarantined. There are confirmed cases at both facilities.

Source: Business Insider

In an Associated Press report including interviews with several correctional officers, inmates, attorneys, and advocates, inmates said when they experience flu-like symptoms, there's hardly guidance on what to do, and some are not tested for the coronavirus.

In an Associated Press report including interviews with several correctional officers, inmates, attorneys, and advocates, inmates said when they experience flu-like symptoms, there's hardly guidance on what to do, and some are not tested for the coronavirus.

Source: Business Insider

Advertisement

Over in Beaumont, Texas, Joseph Plany, an inmate at a federal prison camp, told the Associated Press that the medical unit turned away another inmate who sought treatment for respiratory symptoms.

Over in Beaumont, Texas, Joseph Plany, an inmate at a federal prison camp, told the Associated Press that the medical unit turned away another inmate who sought treatment for respiratory symptoms.

Source: Business Insider

Prison staff members in Florida and South Carolina told the Associated Press that inmates have been allowed to be closer than the six-foot recommendation.

Prison staff members in Florida and South Carolina told the Associated Press that inmates have been allowed to be closer than the six-foot recommendation.

Source: Business Insider

Advertisement

On March 21, the first inmate in the federal prison system tested positive for the coronavirus at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York.

On March 21, the first inmate in the federal prison system tested positive for the coronavirus at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Source: Bloomberg

Next StoryThe US government doubled the interest rate on coronavrius bailout loans for small businesses after banks complained they would lose money