Jails Begin Releasing Prisoners to Stem COVID-19 Outbreak

Amid the COVID-19 outbreak, some jails have started to release at-risk prisoners

Jailors and prosecutors across the U.S. have started taking steps to stem the spread of COVID-19 in the country’s overcrowded prison system, including the early release of some prisoners, WGBH reports.

In Massachusetts, at least six district attorneys have announced steps to early release sick and elderly prisoners. Rachel Rollins, District Attorney for Suffolk County, Massachusetts, said supervisors are reviewing requests for release by prisoners who “pose no meaningful risk to public safety.”

“While Americans across the country are being encouraged to self-isolate, members of our incarcerated population are, by definition, doing the exact opposite with no alternative options. We need to seriously consider pathways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 for our incarcerated populations, the overwhelming majority of which will return to our communities at some point in the future.” — Rollins, in a statement

Cannabis advocate and entrepreneur Steve DeAngelo issued a video statement last Thursday and shared a petition for the release of all cannabis prisoners and incarcerated individuals who are particularly at risk from the deadly virus. There are still more than 44,000 Americans serving prison sentences for nonviolent cannabis offenses.

Read the full article at Ganjapreneur