The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights (LCCHR) and over 150 other groups have called upon the National Governors Association (NGA), U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM), and the National Sheriff’s Association (NSA) to act immediately to help stem the tide of Covid-19.
“In letters sent to the three organizations, the groups urge them to use their authority to reasonably release people from prisons and jails to protect the lives of the more than 2.2 million people nationwide who are currently incarcerated, including more than 600,000 individuals in local jails,” according to a press release from the LCCHR.
The LCCHR said the groups have offered guidelines designed to keep inmates, correctional officers, and their communities as safe, healthy, and virus-free as possible during this time of national, including:
- Reduce jail admissions to the maximum extent possible.
- Release the vast majority of individuals who are currently incarcerated in jails.
- For those individuals who are released on probation, urge the modification of supervision practices so as to support family bonds and health-related exigencies.
- Immediately halt new admissions to juvenile detention and correctional facilities and initiate the removal of youth from juvenile detention and correctional facilities.
- For those individuals who remain incarcerated, ensure proper hygiene and access to medical care.
- For those individuals who remain incarcerated, facilitate communications home.
- For everyone who has incurred debt and/or debt-related penalties, end the financial hardship associated with these debts and penalties.
LCCHR officials said each day people are booked into and released from correctional facilities, while correctional officers, vendors, and other staff cycle in and out of their respective facilities.
“Worse, the enclosed nature of jails and prisons, as well as the difficulties of maintaining proper hygiene inside these facilities, make them perfect breeding grounds for COVID-19,” the LCCHR said.
The letter from the human rights group to the NGA includes specific recommendations to address the new COVID-19 challenges facing the nation, including:
- Dramatically reduce the prison and/or jail populations by using all available powers, including the powers of clemency, furlough, parole, and compassionate release.
- Advocate the maximum reduction in jail admissions by working with local officials.
- Advocate that local officials release the vast majority of individuals who are currently incarcerated in jails by working with local officials.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
