Jail & Prison Support
Organizations and folks across the nation support prisoners rights. In moments like this, it’s crucial. Below are some organizations that have resources and assistance for incarcerated persons and their families/loved ones:
court access
Kentucky Court Facilities are now open in a limited capacity. Information about Louisville Metro court access can be found here.
If you know of someone who is in custody but is being told they will not get their constitutionally protected hearings or bond reviews, call Karen Faulkner at 502-438-8529 (cell) 502-584-0969 (office).
Prison Policy Initiative COVID-19 Resources
This group is is "tracking pandemic-related criminal justice policy changes, issuing recommendations to state and local criminal justice agencies, and busting common myths about COVID-19 and the justice system." See their report card on all 50 states' prison covid response and more at their website.
The National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls:
This group advocates for a change to “community led human justice.” You can find resources and actions to respond to COVID-19 at their website.
National Bail Fund Network
These community bail and bond fund networks have compiled mutual aid resources and facts about the COVID-19 response in prisons. Click here for a version in Spanish.
Color of Change
CoC is an online racial justice movement dedicated to “creat[ing] a more human and less hostile world for Black people in America.” You can find a Google Doc supporting their platform for “Demanding a Just and Humane Response to Outbreak” at bit.ly/2AGH3P1. At the Color of Change website, you can find their COVID-19 response pages, including ways to support Black businesses and actions to help incarcerated persons.
The Bail Project (Louisville)
The Louisville chapter of the National Bail Project maintains a Facebook page with information about local responses to COVID-19 in Louisville jails. They are providing advocacy and emergency community services during this time as well.
Beyond-Prisons
This podcast about prison abolition has gathered many resources on incarceration during coronavirus. There is a list of things to do in support of incarcerated persons, as well as a list of mutual aid networks/resources.
These resources draw from the work of organizers and academics across the country, including the ACLU, Color of Change, Immigrant Legal Resource Center, and defenders. Special thanks to the Prison Policy Initiative for their insight, research, and leading the discussion on this important issue. Here is a link to the PPI report upon which many of these ideas are drawn.