Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Coronavirus (COVID-19) has profoundly impacted correctional facilities, requiring significant adaptations to protect the health of inmates, staff, and visitors. This section offers articles that examine the response to the COVID-19 pandemic within correctional systems, including containment strategies, vaccination efforts, and the long-term implications for prison health care. Understanding the effects of COVID-19 on correctional operations is essential for professionals navigating this ongoing public health challenge. For related information, explore resources on Correctional Healthcare.
The woman’s son coordinated with another person to email her a spreadsheet containing the personal information of 9,043 people
Corrections officers must be fully vaccinated by May 11 or within three weeks of becoming eligible for a booster shot
Gov. Kate Brown will rescind an order that has required nearly 40,000 state employees to be vaccinated
An email alleges there have been multiple cases of COVID at the Okaloosa County Jail and that the county hasn’t been following CDC guidelines
A judge said the federal government’s poor management of the previous 10 executions “has created a substantial risk”
The state prison system has been hit hard by the virus, with outbreaks in numerous facilities across the state
Ten months into the pandemic, Florida’s corrections department is one of the hardest-hit state agencies
Two inmates escaped through a ventilation shaft in the jail module they were being held in
“As an agency, we’re very proud of the engagement percentage we have,” an official said
A large number of Florida inmates are among the thousands of out-of-state inmates who have allegedly received California unemployment benefits
Officials say the number of deaths has more to do with who is at risk of contracting and becoming ill from the virus
Chief of Department Hazel Jennings was awarded the Frederick O’Reilly Hayes Prize for her leadership of the department’s response to the pandemic
Cpl. Mark Rustemeyer, 58, is the first state correctional employee to die from COVID-19
IDOC is protecting staff and inmates by “implementing surveillance and outbreak mitigation testing strategies”
The virus is taking its toll on the staff and has required significant use of overtime to keep things running
Officer David Christensen, 62, who worked at the Stafford Creek Corrections Center, died Dec. 29
The BOP had initially planned to reserve the vaccine only for staff members, but some high-risk inmates have also been vaccinated
Corrections officials have not said how many people have been vaccinated, or how many are slated for this or future phases
At the time of the 2009 procedure, Romell Broom was only the second inmate nationally to survive an execution after they began in modern times
Nurses, doctors and COs who are in close contact with infected prisoners are the highest priority for the vaccines
“Their work was instrumental in improving the atmosphere in our facilities during these unsettling times,” an official said
The COVID-19 vaccine is another risk mitigation tool, kind of like ”internal body armor”
Since March, 171 federal inmates have died of the coronavirus
Between mid-August and mid-October, the cumulative number of inmate infections more than tripled and total staff cases more than doubled
Michael Padavona is locked up in FCI Fort Dix in New Jersey, which was ravaged by coronavirus last month
Correctional leaders should commit themselves and their staff to apply lessons learned from the challenges of 2020 into policies and emergency planning
The money is coming from dollars already allocated to the department, but hasn’t been spent yet due to vacancies
As the pandemic enters its 10th month, more than 1,700 have died and the spread of the virus behind bars shows no sign of slowing
If the plan is adopted, the court could release anybody who’s spent more than six months behind bars for second, third or fourth degree charges
A judge found that state leaders can face liability claims if they didn’t carry out proper safety measures
The Cuyahoga County Jail is in the midst of an explosion of COVID-19 cases among inmates and staff
Roughly one-quarter of MDOC staff and almost half of people incarcerated during the pandemic have been infected
The coronavirus impacted all aspects of correctional facility operations – from staffing to officer wellness
