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Barr Expands Early Release of Inmates at Prisons Seeing More Coronavirus Cases Barr Expands Early Release of Inmates at Prisons Seeing More Coronavirus Cases
(2 months later)
WASHINGTON — Attorney General William P. Barr ordered the Bureau of Prisons on Friday to expand the group of federal inmates eligible for early release and to prioritize those at three facilities where known coronavirus cases have grown precipitously, as the virus threatens to overwhelm prison medical facilities and nearby hospitals.WASHINGTON — Attorney General William P. Barr ordered the Bureau of Prisons on Friday to expand the group of federal inmates eligible for early release and to prioritize those at three facilities where known coronavirus cases have grown precipitously, as the virus threatens to overwhelm prison medical facilities and nearby hospitals.
Mr. Barr wrote in a memo to Michael Carvajal, the director of the Bureau of Prisons, that he was intensifying the push to release prisoners to home confinement because “emergency conditions” created by the coronavirus have affected the ability of the bureau to function.Mr. Barr wrote in a memo to Michael Carvajal, the director of the Bureau of Prisons, that he was intensifying the push to release prisoners to home confinement because “emergency conditions” created by the coronavirus have affected the ability of the bureau to function.
He directed the bureau to prioritize the release of prisoners from federal correctional institutions in Louisiana, Connecticut and Ohio, which comprise the bulk of the system’s 91 inmates and 50 staff members who have tested positive for the coronavirus.He directed the bureau to prioritize the release of prisoners from federal correctional institutions in Louisiana, Connecticut and Ohio, which comprise the bulk of the system’s 91 inmates and 50 staff members who have tested positive for the coronavirus.
At least five inmates have died at the federal prison in Oakdale, La., and two have died at the federal prison near Elkton, Ohio. Officials with unions that represent prison workers have said that the reported numbers are likely undercounting the number of infected staff, given the paucity of testing.At least five inmates have died at the federal prison in Oakdale, La., and two have died at the federal prison near Elkton, Ohio. Officials with unions that represent prison workers have said that the reported numbers are likely undercounting the number of infected staff, given the paucity of testing.
“We are experiencing significant levels of infection at several of our facilities,” Mr. Barr said in the memo. He said that where appropriate the bureau must quickly “move vulnerable inmates out of these institutions.”“We are experiencing significant levels of infection at several of our facilities,” Mr. Barr said in the memo. He said that where appropriate the bureau must quickly “move vulnerable inmates out of these institutions.”
The memo was first reported by Politico.The memo was first reported by Politico.
Last week, Mr. Barr asked the bureau to identify and release all inmates who were eligible for home confinement, no longer posed a threat to the public and were particularly vulnerable to the coronavirus.Last week, Mr. Barr asked the bureau to identify and release all inmates who were eligible for home confinement, no longer posed a threat to the public and were particularly vulnerable to the coronavirus.
After that directive, 522 of the system’s 146,000 total inmates were moved to home confinement, according to the Bureau of Prisons.After that directive, 522 of the system’s 146,000 total inmates were moved to home confinement, according to the Bureau of Prisons.
On Friday, Mr. Barr expanded that cohort of people eligible for release to home confinement, exercising an authority granted to him by the $2 trillion economic stabilization package that President Trump signed into law last week.On Friday, Mr. Barr expanded that cohort of people eligible for release to home confinement, exercising an authority granted to him by the $2 trillion economic stabilization package that President Trump signed into law last week.
That expanded group includes “all at-risk inmates — not only those who were previously eligible for transfer,” Mr. Barr wrote in his memo.That expanded group includes “all at-risk inmates — not only those who were previously eligible for transfer,” Mr. Barr wrote in his memo.
Citing a lack of resources, he also authorized the bureau to release inmates to home confinement without electronic monitors, where appropriate.Citing a lack of resources, he also authorized the bureau to release inmates to home confinement without electronic monitors, where appropriate.
The coronavirus has ripped through jails and prisons, where it is impossible for guards and inmates to maintain social distancing.The coronavirus has ripped through jails and prisons, where it is impossible for guards and inmates to maintain social distancing.
In an attempt to slow the spread of the virus, authorities nationwide have released thousands of inmates, primarily from state and local facilities, where the vast majority of all incarcerated people reside.In an attempt to slow the spread of the virus, authorities nationwide have released thousands of inmates, primarily from state and local facilities, where the vast majority of all incarcerated people reside.
This week, the bureau said that all 122 facilities in the federal prison system would be on lockdown for two weeks to slow the spread.This week, the bureau said that all 122 facilities in the federal prison system would be on lockdown for two weeks to slow the spread.
On Monday, Representative Jerrold Nadler, Democrat of New York and the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, urged Mr. Barr to “institute aggressive measures to release medically compromised, elderly and pregnant prisoners” in order to stem the health crisis in the federal prison system.On Monday, Representative Jerrold Nadler, Democrat of New York and the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, urged Mr. Barr to “institute aggressive measures to release medically compromised, elderly and pregnant prisoners” in order to stem the health crisis in the federal prison system.
Updated June 2, 2020
Mass protests against police brutality that have brought thousands of people onto the streets in cities across America are raising the specter of new coronavirus outbreaks, prompting political leaders, physicians and public health experts to warn that the crowds could cause a surge in cases. While many political leaders affirmed the right of protesters to express themselves, they urged the demonstrators to wear face masks and maintain social distancing, both to protect themselves and to prevent further community spread of the virus. Some infectious disease experts were reassured by the fact that the protests were held outdoors, saying the open air settings could mitigate the risk of transmission.
Exercise researchers and physicians have some blunt advice for those of us aiming to return to regular exercise now: Start slowly and then rev up your workouts, also slowly. American adults tended to be about 12 percent less active after the stay-at-home mandates began in March than they were in January. But there are steps you can take to ease your way back into regular exercise safely. First, “start at no more than 50 percent of the exercise you were doing before Covid,” says Dr. Monica Rho, the chief of musculoskeletal medicine at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago. Thread in some preparatory squats, too, she advises. “When you haven’t been exercising, you lose muscle mass.” Expect some muscle twinges after these preliminary, post-lockdown sessions, especially a day or two later. But sudden or increasing pain during exercise is a clarion call to stop and return home.
States are reopening bit by bit. This means that more public spaces are available for use and more and more businesses are being allowed to open again. The federal government is largely leaving the decision up to states, and some state leaders are leaving the decision up to local authorities. Even if you aren’t being told to stay at home, it’s still a good idea to limit trips outside and your interaction with other people.
Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks.
Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days.
If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.)
More than 40 million people — the equivalent of 1 in 4 U.S. workers — have filed for unemployment benefits since the pandemic took hold. One in five who were working in February reported losing a job or being furloughed in March or the beginning of April, data from a Federal Reserve survey released on May 14 showed, and that pain was highly concentrated among low earners. Fully 39 percent of former workers living in a household earning $40,000 or less lost work, compared with 13 percent in those making more than $100,000, a Fed official said.
Taking one’s temperature to look for signs of fever is not as easy as it sounds, as “normal” temperature numbers can vary, but generally, keep an eye out for a temperature of 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. If you don’t have a thermometer (they can be pricey these days), there are other ways to figure out if you have a fever, or are at risk of Covid-19 complications.
The C.D.C. has recommended that all Americans wear cloth masks if they go out in public. This is a shift in federal guidance reflecting new concerns that the coronavirus is being spread by infected people who have no symptoms. Until now, the C.D.C., like the W.H.O., has advised that ordinary people don’t need to wear masks unless they are sick and coughing. Part of the reason was to preserve medical-grade masks for health care workers who desperately need them at a time when they are in continuously short supply. Masks don’t replace hand washing and social distancing.
If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.
If you’re sick and you think you’ve been exposed to the new coronavirus, the C.D.C. recommends that you call your healthcare provider and explain your symptoms and fears. They will decide if you need to be tested. Keep in mind that there’s a chance — because of a lack of testing kits or because you’re asymptomatic, for instance — you won’t be able to get tested.
Mr. Nadler also asked that the Justice Department begin universal coronavirus testing in all federal prison facilities.Mr. Nadler also asked that the Justice Department begin universal coronavirus testing in all federal prison facilities.
But law enforcement agents have pushed back on early release more broadly, arguing that doing so could overwhelm law enforcement, particularly probation and pretrial services officers.But law enforcement agents have pushed back on early release more broadly, arguing that doing so could overwhelm law enforcement, particularly probation and pretrial services officers.
Once an inmate leaves prison, probation and pretrial services officers “supervise those formerly incarcerated individuals and ensure they no longer pose a threat to the American people,” Larry Cosme, the national president of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, said in a statement on Monday.Once an inmate leaves prison, probation and pretrial services officers “supervise those formerly incarcerated individuals and ensure they no longer pose a threat to the American people,” Larry Cosme, the national president of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, said in a statement on Monday.
“It is imperative that law enforcement has the personnel, protective equipment, and appropriate compensation needed to carry out their important duties,” Mr. Cosme said.“It is imperative that law enforcement has the personnel, protective equipment, and appropriate compensation needed to carry out their important duties,” Mr. Cosme said.
In his memo, Mr. Barr said that prisoners who had committed serious criminal acts like violent crimes or sex offenses would not be released in order to protect public safety. And he noted that the release of prisoners comes at a time when police forces across the country are shrinking as officers are exposed to the coronavirus.In his memo, Mr. Barr said that prisoners who had committed serious criminal acts like violent crimes or sex offenses would not be released in order to protect public safety. And he noted that the release of prisoners comes at a time when police forces across the country are shrinking as officers are exposed to the coronavirus.
“The last thing our massively overburdened police forces need right now is the indiscriminate release of thousands of prisoners onto the streets without any verification that those prisoners will follow the laws when they are released,” Mr. Barr wrote in his memo.“The last thing our massively overburdened police forces need right now is the indiscriminate release of thousands of prisoners onto the streets without any verification that those prisoners will follow the laws when they are released,” Mr. Barr wrote in his memo.