Decarceration

Public Health Impact

Facilitates social distancing by reducing in and outflow of inmates through jails (where average length of stay can be just a few days) and cutting back on number of people in already cramped prisons with poor health care access

LEGISLATION TO RELEASE LOW-RISK INDIVIDUALS AND IMPROVE PRISON SANITATION

THE PROBLEM:

As of mid April, 180 prisoners in MA tested positive for COVID, 5 have died, and 189 prison staff have now been infected -- a dramatic rise from March 21 when the 1st prisoner was diagnosed. This is a humanitarian disaster waiting to happen (prisoners are dying in places where social distancing is impossible) and also a critical public health problem (we can't suppress COVID-19 if we're growing giant reservoirs of virus in our communities).

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

  • Submit written testimony (comments) by TOMORROW Tues 5/5 at 5 PM in support of bill H.4652! The bill seeks to decarcerate individuals who are not a danger to the community and improve prison sanitation. (You do NOT need to testify in person -- these are comments that will be read by the MA Judiciary Committee as they review the bill in a private hearing.) These can be very short (e.g. 3-5 sentences). Please see this written testimony template from the MA Healthcare Workers for Equity group for reference, but please try to personalize your testimony (e.g. patient story, your worry from inpatient experiences about COVID-19 overwhelming hospitals, your own thoughts on public health implications etc).

  • Please email your testimony to Senator Eldridge (james.eldridge@masenate.gov), Rep. Cronin (claire.cronin@mahouse.gov), and Rep. Sabadosa (Lindsay.Sabadosa@mahouse.gov) by 5:00 PM tomorrow.

​LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BILLS:

QUESTIONS? Please reach out to Priscilla Wang, MD (pgwang@partners.org) or Ayrenne Adams, MD (aaadams@partners.org).

COVID-19 AT BRISTOL COUNTY HOUSE OF CORRECTIONS

THE PROBLEM:

For weeks people have expressed concerns about exposure to COVID-19 within the Bristol County House of Corrections' ICE detention unit, following the public release of a letter signed by 51 men detained there. On Friday May 1, several men in detention felt sick with symptoms of COVID-19. Rather than using available medical space in their unit to test them, staff told them to pack their belongings before going for testing. In the past, this has been a pretext to put people into solitary confinement. People refused to be transported, fearing solitary confinement without medical care, or transfer to an un-sanitized medical unit. Staff assaulted and pepper sprayed members of the unit, further endangering them. Riot police and canine units were called to the facility. Three people were taken to the hospital. The condition of those left behind is unknown, but many, if not all, may have been placed in solitary confinement and face multiple charges after being assaulted by government employees.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

  1. Contact Senators Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren and your state representative and ask that they visit Bristol and demand entry (their right as our elected representatives) and visit people previously housed on Unit B. (State Senator Sonia Chang Diaz was illegally denied entry Saturday.)

  2. If you use social media, spread the word using the hashtag #FreeThemAll! Amplify on Twitter and Facebook the reports and stories of folks inside from CT Bail Fund, Fang Collective, Boston Immigration Justice Accompaniment Network.

  3. Urge Todd Thurlow, ICE's acting Regional Director, to #freethemall through a no-contact protest project. Sign up here! (organized by BIJAN)

  4. Ask any high profile medical professionals to call Bristol jail and St. Luke's to inquire about people's well-being. BIJAN has heard that people are in solitary and have not been allowed to shower after being pepper sprayed which is very dangerous for folks with asthma, COVID or lung issues.