Do not re-victimize coronavirus victims

Americans are making great sacrifices to combat the coronavirus on the word of their government but that does not mean that they must be forced to sacrifice their safety, as well.

Unfortunately, it may be too late.

Several cities in the U.S. have begun to release prisoners early from jails in an attempt to stem Covid-19 infections.

In Los Angeles, the sheriff has released more than 600 inmates. Further, law enforcement is being asked to write citations instead of pursuing arrests in order to prevent offenders being incarcerated.

Likewise, New York City Mayor Bill Deblasio said this week that individuals who had been arrested for minor crimes, and those who were vulnerable to the coronavirus, would also be released.

In Cuyahoga County, Ohio, hundreds of prisoners have already been released out of coronavirus concerns.

California Senator Kamala Harris has also requested that the Federal Bureau of Prisons release prisoners. “At this time, BOP,” she wrote in a letter to BOP Director Michael Carvajal, “in coordination with the U.S. Department of Justice — can and should request the release of low-risk individuals who are in pre-trial detention because of money bail.”

Right here in Massachusetts a similar initiative is afoot. Suffolk District Attorney Rachael Rollins, Middlesex DA Marian Ryan, Northwestern DA David Sullivan and Berkshire DA Andrea Harrington signed a letter, along with 30 other prosecutors nationwide, asking for the release of some prisoners and for law enforcement to take a “cite and release” approach to offenders.

While it is the responsibility of government to provide for the health and safety of incarcerated individuals it is also the responsibility — the primary responsibility — of government to provide for the safety and security of every other citizen as well.

A policy that unleashes lawbreakers onto communities — usually the most disadvantaged communities — is reckless and dangerous. Further, to direct law enforcement to merely cite and release those involved in criminal behavior removes the last line of defense for communities.

Bristol County Sheriff Tom Hodgson is pushing back, telling the Boston Herald, “What (DAs) ought to be doing is focusing on what they were elected to do, which is they prosecute the cases, the judges remand them to our prisons, and they remand them here because obviously they didn’t think it was appropriate for them to be in our neighborhoods.”

Progressive prosecutors have made it clear that they believe the criminal justice system is pernicious and the institutions of law enforcement are to be dismantled at any cost.

It is a trend that undermines law enforcement and the rule of law and it is dangerous. It must be condemned and stopped.