Items

• 
  2021-02-05

  Reducing Jail Sentences for Inmates with Preexisting Health Conditions

  The study conducted by the Brennan Center for Justice (BCJ) found that prisons, jails, and detention facilities are rushing to make an effort to release unnecessarily incarcerated people to improve healthcare and conditions of confinement for the remaining inmate population. As part of a larger project to end mass incarceration, the BCJ analyzed the unique health challenges posed by the inmate population both 65 and older, as well as those with preexisting medical conditions. "Brennan Center Recommendation: Elderly and sick people and those incarcerated for parole violations should be released or recommended for release under compassionate release provisions or another authority. Barring that, prison officials should use their discretion to transfer people to community corrections options."
• 
  2020-07-17

  ‘They’re scared’: A look inside the COVID-19 crisis in Arizona prisons

  As COVID-19 began to spread across the Southwest in March, lawyers representing incarcerated Arizonans reported “unsanitary conditions,” “inadequate medical staffing and treatment” and a “failure to take strong and sensible precautionary measures” in state prisons. The combination left prisoners “highly vulnerable to outbreaks,” the attorneys wrote in a letter to the state before asking a federal judge to intervene. The judge did by issuing an order for officials to release more information, but prison advocates say it hasn’t been enough. Nearly four months later, complaints of insufficient safety measures and subpar medical care continue to plague Arizona prisons. At least 569 prisoners at 13 of the state’s 16 prison complexes had tested positive for COVID-19 as of July 15, according to the Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry, and at least 371 staffers have reported positive results. Justice reform advocates and others with ties to the correctional system worry the state is running out of time to prevent an even more dangerous surge in cases. COVID-19 can spread swiftly in crowded indoor spaces and among individuals with chronic health problems.
• 
  2020-06-15

  Maricopa County Sheriff's Office answers Frequently Asked Questions regarding Covid-19

  This is a list of questions posed to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office regarding department policies and procedures regarding the Covid-19 pandemic. This list was made to provide answers to the public regarding safety and security issues within the jails. The questions range from how many active cases are present in the jail (as of date of publication) to how/when inmates are released to availability of cleaning supplies and personal protective equipment.
• 
  2020-03-15

  Security Changes in Maricopa County Jails in Light of Covid-19

  This is a press release that was published in March, right at the time when the US was really starting to get hit with the pandemic. At the time this was published, there were no confirmed cases of the virus in the jails, but the Sheriff's office began increasing security and limiting access in an attempt to prevent the spread of the virus within the jail population. Even at the beginning, it was evident that this would not be a flash in the pan type incident but a long lasting event that would require rethinking the 'everyday normal' to keep people safe and healthy.
• 
  2020-07-20

  Private prison contracts complicates COVID-19 precautions

  The contracts for Arizona's private prisons require nearly all of the beds to be filled. This story articulates the difficult balance between keeping inmates safe during a pandemic and satisfying the contracts.
• 
  2020-08-05

  My Friend Died in San Quentin Due to Covid-19. His Death Was Entirely Preventable.

  Written by Adnan Khan, a formerly incarcerated person and criminal justice reform advocate, this article explains the death of his friend from Covid and how it was preventable.
• 
  2020-07-30

  The Fight for Second Chances

  As COVID-19 threatens the safety of inmates and staff in the Arizona Department of Corrections, families with incarcerated loved ones are pushing for the state to release some non-violent offenders early. So far, they have not swayed officials... but in November, voters will have a chnace to decide whether certain non-violent offenders should be able to earn time off their sentences. This story discusses the challenges of political activism amidst a pandemic.
• 
  2020-06-28

  Is the governor of California committing genocide by transfering inmates?

  This is a Twitter post (social media) from a prison reform advocate. In the post he poses the question is the governor of California, Gavin Newsome, committing genocide by transferring inmates from a correctional facility with known covid cases to facilities that have no cases. The Tweet and responses show people's feelings on the subject.
• 
  2020-05-01

  I Do Not Want to Die in Here, Letters from the Houston Jail

  The architecture and structure of US prisons and jails make it impossible follow any of the guidelines given to slow the spread of the corona virus. Some argue it is prudent to release nonviolent offenders or those nearing the end of their sentences in an effort to provide more space within the facilities. Others oppose this idea citing fear of public safety. Inmates and their advocates worry that a prison sentence could turn into a death sentence. What about persons who have yet to even stand trial? While many people are not aware in the difference between a prison and a jail the distinction is very important. Jails hold people awaiting trial that could not afford bail while prisons are where people convicted of crimes serve their sentence. To be fair there are a small number of people in jails serving their sentence because it is short. With covid looming the question has become is it fair to keep people in jail where they have no defense against a deadly virus? This article discusses this issue and provides excerpts from letters written by inmates at the Harris County Jail in downtown Houston, TX.
• 
  2020-05-20

  'People are sick all around me': inside the coronavirus catastrophe in California prisons

  Due to the closer quarters and overcrowding in the nation's prisons they are a breeding ground for easy transmission of the coronavirus. As this article states the "public health catastrophe" inside the country's prisons was "predictable and preventable." California has over 25,000 covid positive inmates as of this article’s writing (05/20/2020), and more in other detention facilities. The outbreak doesn't look like it will slow down anytime soon. This article discusses the conditions inside of California prisons based on inmate communications and talking with family members. HST580, ASU
• 
  2020-06-09

  COVID-19 Inside Arkansas Prisons: The Death of Derick Coley

  This article is the second in a three-part series by NPR reporter Anna Stitt. Sponsored by the National Geographic Society's COVID-19 Emergency Fund for Journalists. In this article Stitt mostly focuses on the death of inmate Derrick Coley. He was a healthy 29-year-old inmate who had been up for parole since June of 2017 but once he contracted covid in the Cummins Unit, part of the Arkansas State Prisons, he passed away. In exploring his death Stitt finds that inmates who pay $3 each time they request medical attention ( this was waved from March 23-April 30, 2020) were often not receiving any medical attention and at other times would only see a nurse. The process relayed to her was that inmates must request medical attention four times before they can see a doctor and the only doctor is one whose medical license has been revoked. After several inmates died from covid some inmates began to rebel. Prison staff used tear gas to quell the uprising. This was surprising to inmates Stitt spoke with because the coronavirus is a respiratory virus and at the time over 900 people were infected. As with many large bureaucracies, the prison blames the company contracted to provide medical care, Wellpath, and they pass the buck back to the prison. The concern for prisoners, their family, friends, and advocates is that they could die. Without the ability to social distance, 100% mask wearing, and being able to wash their hand frequently the fear is that a prison sentence, even a relatively short one, could turn into a death sentence.
• 
  2020-06-08

  COVID-19 Inside Arkansas Prisons: Virus Spreads Through Inmate Populations and Staff

  This article is the first of a three-part series covering the covid pandemic inside the Arkansas State Corrections facilities. NPR reporter, Anna Stitt, interviewed several prisoners and focused her reporting on the Cummins Unit, the state’s largest and oldest facility. While no cases were reported inside the prison until one month after the state had issued a stay at home order, once the virus entered the facility it spread quickly. Stitt covers the different stories reported by employees and officials as opposed to the inmates at the prison and other facilities in the state. The inmates report lack of access to bathroom facilities, being ignored when sick, and many other problems. The officials on the other hand tell a very different story.
• 
  2020-05-26

  California prison begins testing all employees

  Testing or lack there of has been a big part of the news cycle since covid reached the U.S. In the beginning a person could only gain access to a test if they met certain criteria. This severely limited the number of people tested and was done because the number of tests available was very low. Even people deemed essential workers, such as those working in the nations prison system, had trouble accessing tests.