ACLU: Deal reached to protect Conn. inmates from COVID-19

A settlement been reached in a lawsuit to protect inmates in Connecticut state prisons from COVID-19, according to the ACLU of Connecticut.

If the agreement is approved by a federal judge, it will require the state Department of Correction to follow procedures to reduce the risk of COVID-19 for all people who are incarcerated in DOC prisons and jails.

ACLU said the agreement would require the DOC to prioritize elderly and medically vulnerable people for release programs, provide certain hygiene and sanitation practices, and institute to other human rights requirements.

Under the agreement, the DOC would be required to: identify people age 65 and above and people at a medical risk scale of 4 or 5 and fast track those people for consideration for release; stop imposing punitive measures such as loss of housing status, program access, work assignments, or phone privileges because someone has tested positive or is presumed positive; provide regular access to showers with running water, including for people who have tested positive or are presumed positive; institute and follow a system-wide cleaning schedule.

Also, distribute antiseptic cleaning supplies for people to be able to clean their areas if they wish to; provide people with disinfectant to wipe down phones between uses; test all people who are incarcerated, dependent on individualized informed consent; ensure people have least at two free bars of soap at all times; ensure people have at least two clean and functional masks at all times; and follow additional requirements.

Under the agreement, a five-member panel of experts will be responsible for reviewing the DOC’s ongoing response to COVID-19 and making continual recommendations to the parties accordingly.

If accepted by the court, the agreement would resolve two lawsuits, McPherson v Lamont and CCDLA v Lamont.

Under the agreement, the federal court will conduct a fairness hearing, in which the court must provide the opportunity for all members of the class — all people who are incarcerated in Connecticut — the chance to state their positions regarding the agreement. If accepted by the court, the agreement would run until Dec. 31, 2020.

A copy of the agreement is available online.

For information regarding the lawsuit: https://www. acluct.org/en/cases/mcpherson-et-al-v-lamont-et-al