Prisons and Jails Close contact with others spreads the coronavirus. This is why government officials have mandated that people stay home, away from others and insist that if people do have to go out, they stay at least 6 feet away from others. It is difficult to maintain this type of social distancing in prisons and jails, and many large outbreaks have been traced back to them. Given these risks, governments have outlined plans to release some people from prison during the pandemic. On March 26, 2020, Attorney General William Barr issued an order to move a number of inmates to home confinement if they were in a higher risk health group, had positive conduct while incarcerated, and were accused of a non-violent crime (if you have internet access, you can read the entire memo here). Leaders and experts have had a number of reactions to this move. “The other thing that really is important to understand about jail is that and this is why the nursing home comparison is almost more apt than the cruise ship is. It’s not just that people are trapped near one another, but they also don’t get to do things for themselves. So when a person in a housing area needs to be moved to the clinic for evaluation, an officer has to open a gate and bring them there, walk them down the hall. When a person goes to the hospital, they are transported on a bus. Officers at their side, when they move from one facility to another, they might be cuffed. When they are given medication. That pharmacist holds the medication and gives it to them when they’re given their meals. You know, a worker comes around with trays and hands out those trays. There’s just an incredible amount of excess contact that happens in this setting that is a function of jail and can’t really be minimized.” -Rachel Bedard, Physician at New York City’s jail complex on Rikers Island, April 6, 2020 “The process for releasing inmates gives little consideration to the housing, supervision, and support-service needs to individuals who are being returned to their communities: needs that, if not addressed, will only compound the possible health, safety and other risks, both to the communities and to the individuals at issue... Even at this difficult time, our society must have the ability to safeguard those who are incarcerated, to avoid violating their rights or endangering the community. In short, we should not have to make release decisions that we know will put communities at risk.” -NYC District Attorneys in a letter to New York City mayor Bill de Blasio 1) What claim is Rachel Bedard making in her statement?

2) What claim are the District Attorneys making in their letter?