Thousands of inmates set free across United States
It started with a trickle.
Fearing that the coronavirus could wreak havoc once inside densely packed jails, local officials across the country quietly began releasing some of their most vulnerable, including the elderly and chronically ill.
The goal, said National Sheriffs’ Association president Sheriff Daron Hall, was to reduce the risk both to prisoners and officers, while freeing up necessary space to quarantine other inmates who may become infected.
Dozens set free during the first wave of releases early this month have now become hundreds, as state and local governments have accelerated their efforts in recent weeks to guard highly susceptible prison populations, and the staff working there, against the spread of the deadly virus.
In Cleveland, officials have moved more than 700 prisoners out of the Cuyahoga County Jail in less than two weeks; near Oakland, California, more than 250 have been set free; in Nashville, Tennessee, up to 300 have been released; and across New Jersey, hundreds of prisoners were expected to exit county jails this week under an order issued by Supreme Court Chief Justice
Stuart Rabner.
The ACLU estimated that the New Jersey releases could reach 1,000.
Outlining the unprecedented action, a somber state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal, a former prosecutor, said he took “no pleasure” in the announcement and cautioned the newly liberated that authorities would be watching.
Authorities across the country may be watching, but they also have begun to distance themselves, in many cases, from suspects as they seek to protect themselves from infection.
“This (health emergency) is forcing us to take action that we wouldn’t consider during normal times,” Grewal said. “We have to take bold and drastic steps because when this pandemic is over, I need to be able to look my daughters in their eyes to say that we took every step possible to help all the residents of this state – including those serving jail sentences.”
Indeed, the new policies come with high-stakes risks all their own as authorities seek to balance public health needs and the safety of their communities.
“Everyone feels the weight of these decisions,” said Hall, who for nearly 20 years has served as sheriff of Davidson County, Tennessee. “The real crisis right now in criminal justice is in the jails, and we have to address it.”
So far, six federal inmates and four staffers have tested positive for the virus. Federal prison officials, who earlier this month halted all visitation, said Tuesday that they will now quarantine all new prisoners for 14 days in a further effort to limit the virus’ spread.
‘Dire straits’
In many local communities, early-release decisions began emerging weeks ago.
Brendan Sheehan, the presiding judge of Cuyahoga County’s Common Pleas Court in Cleveland, said he met with fellow judges March 11 to discuss their options amid the rapidly evolving health crisis and how it could upend operations at the overcrowded jail.
At that time, the jail population stood at 1,978; the facility is designed for a maximum 1,700 prisoners.
In short order, Sheehan said prosecutors, defense lawyers and judges began work on a plan that has resulted in the release of more than 700 prisoners. Some serving state sentences were moved to Ohio prisons, while others serving time or awaiting trial for non-violent offenses were approved for release. Within 10 days, Sheehan said, the jail population had been reduced by 500 inmates.
“At first people probably thought we were nuts,” the judge said. “But then the NBA cancels its season, and you say, ‘wait a minute.’ Everyone understood the dire straits that we were in; everyone got on the same page.”
Sweeping policy in South Carolina
Chad Mcbride wasn’t totally opposed to releasing dozens of prisoners from the Anderson County, South Carolina, jail as a precaution against a potential outbreak of the feared coronavirus.
As the local sheriff who oversees all detention operations, Mcbride knew that there were aging, ill and low-level prisoners who probably could be cut loose with little or no risk while reducing persistent overcrowding.
Mcbride’s beef is that he wasn’t personally consulted before more than 40 offenders were released, largely on their own promises to appear for future court hearings.
“Half of these guys are going to be back in jail in weeks,” the sheriff said, describing the releases as a “knee-jerk reaction.”