The Brennan Center for Justice highlights how the COVID pandemic has impacted jails – and that according to analysis by The Marshall Project and the Associated Press, more than 100,000 people have been released from state and federal prisons which is an 8% decrease in the national prison population since the pandemic started. The [...]
The Detroit Free Press notes that convicted cadaver dealer Arthur Rathburn is pleading for compassionate release from prison citing fears of contracting the coronavirus — though the government calls it an act. Prosecutors noted in a court filing that Mr. Rathburn has refused to take a COVID-19 vaccine and does not follow social distancing [...]
Experts say the global pandemic has made the transition from prison to outside life challenging for former prisoners. Low-wage jobs became scarce as industries shut down last year and services moved to online applications and delivery. Read more: https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/covid-raged-michigan-prisons-life-outside-isnt-easy-either-parolees
In an effort to stem the spread of the coronavirus in federal prisons, last year the US Justice Department let more than 23,800 inmates serve their sentences at home. But as more people are vaccinated, thousands of these inmates may be sent back to prison to serve the remainder of their sentences, thanks to [...]
Deadline Detroit reports that fewer Michigan prisoners were actually released in the pandemic's first year. As Covid-19 rages in Michigan’s prisons, delivering death sentences to more than 120 people who didn't earn them, the Michigan Department of Corrections has insisted it’s doing everything in its power to keep inmates safe. But that hasn’t included [...]
The Detroit Free Press reports on families and advocates protesting Michigan's Department of Corrections handling of the pandemic as cases continue to grow inside Michigan's prisons. More than 95 prisoners have died so far. Advocate Zoe Jackson noted, "There are actions that could've been taken at a state level but nothing has been done. [...]
ClickOnDetroit reports on Governor Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Corrections efforts to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in Michigan's prison facilities. Governor Whitmer said, "This is a concern that we share as an administration, and I know that families across the state are worried about the safety of their loved ones who [...]
WXYZ Detroit reported on September 29th, 2020 that COVID-19 is highlighting disparities in the US criminal justice system. The article uses Quentin Burt's story to show how Federal mandatory minimum sentencing has impacted the US - in the 1970's, the federal prison population was about 300,000. Now, it's nearly two-and-a-half million. COVID-19 is revealing [...]
The Detroit Free Press published an article on September 7th detailing some of the many challenges re-entry poses for former prisoners. Getting a State ID or driver's license can be particularly difficult due to public health safety restrictions caused by the pandemic. [Daniel Robinson from Worthy and Able] estimates that 75 to 80 out [...]
A Washington Post editorial posted on August 21, 2020 notes the vulnerability of the prison population in the midst of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic and the uneven efforts nationally to deal with this issue. The authors of the opinion article call for more prisoners to be released for health and safety reasons and to help [...]
