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 person walked past armed security to gain access to the facility
The corrections guild president says officers are so exhausted from mandatory OT that they’re sleeping in empty cells between shifts
The Philadelphia Bail Fund said it plans to use the money later this month “to free as many people as possible”
The surge led to a staffing shortage so dire that officials brought in employees from other prisons
Use of force incidents soared to 719 in March, according to data presented in the 296-page report
Prison employees weren’t complying with mask rules at 23 of the 34 prisons inspectors visited
Officials said prison-wide testing was administered after a staff member tested positive
“I feel like they don’t look at us as humans. We’re just a badge number, a shield number. We’re disposable. There’s no empathy at all,” one CO said
“Transparency is essential for government, especially during a public health crisis,” an ACLU of Missouri advocate said
The outbreak has spread into surrounding communities since it was first detected earlier this month
A state appeals court took the unprecedented step of ordering at least half of the prison’s 2,900 inmates transferred or released
The law takes effect in 16 days, meaning the first wave of releases will happen the day after Election Day
Many say the deaths of COs Karen Kennedy and Barthphine Maduh underscore the dangers faced by officers and inmates
There have been 889 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 108 active cases, in the prison system
Staffers who have potentially been exposed may be permitted to continue working if they display no symptoms
Currently, a total of 936 staff members and 1,933 inmates statewide have tested positive
The jail is now only taking people arrested on felony charges, DUIs, domestic violence cases and anyone deemed a safety risk to the community
The total number of inmates who tested positive for COVID-19 now stands at 139, and 33 employees or vendors have also tested positive
Londell Woodbury, who was only 23, took a CO job in May to chase a dream of becoming a detective
Michael D. Carvajal stated that no one on the FCI staff had officially complained about any lack of PPE
The ruling would potentially clear the way for at least 80,000 checks totaling more than $100 million to be sent to people behind bars across the U.S.
The union says the problem lies with the U.S. Marshals Service, claiming they don’t follow protocols for testing inmates before transferring them
Internal documents and interviews with inmates and one CO reveal how county officials flouted public health precautions
Dozens of letters claim the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry wasn’t protecting staff and inmates during the outbreak
Mr. President, may this time be a period of rest, reflection and renewal as you lead the nation during the COVID-19 national emergency
Missouri Department of Corrections data shows that some prisons have more than 300 cumulative cases, while others have cases in the single digits
President Trump tweets that he and the first lady are entering quarantine
The deaths of fire, law enforcement, corrections and EMS leaders and personnel will have a decades-long impact on department operations, safety and capability
Recommendations include that officials screen inmates daily, increase medical staffing and investigate instances of retaliation and threats over inmate concerns
The ruling comes after weeks of testimony by inmates, officials and experts about the lack of access to soap, hand sanitizer and routine testing
Kettle Moraine is the Wisconsin prison with the highest number of COVID-19 cases among inmates since the pandemic began in March
The officer was in his 60s and was a “well-respected” veteran of 26 years, officials said
Mass testing detected 51 more women with COVID-19 at the South Dakota Women’s Prison
