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| Friend, Patrick Jones and Nicholas Rodriguez were among the hundreds of thousands of people behind bars for drug offenses. Now they have become some of the first people in federal prison to tragically die of COVID-19. In less than a week, COVID-19 has taken the lives of seven people in federal custody. Five were incarcerated for drug charges, and each had underlying health conditions that made them high-risk for complications from the virus. Time is running out to prevent even more fatalities. Tell Congress to support a new crucial bill that would release people in federal prison who are at-risk of COVID-19. The Emergency Community Supervision Act (S. 3579 / H.R. 6400) would help reduce dangerous overcrowding in federal prisons by transferring into community supervision individuals who are medically vulnerable, people over 50 years of age, and people within 12 months of release from incarceration from federal custody. People behind bars face grave danger in crowded, unsanitary environments that make precautions such as social distancing impossible. Incarcerated individuals have higher rates of health issues compared to the general public, making this population especially susceptible to COVID-19. During this unprecedented public health crisis, it’s imperative that we take those most at-risk out of harm’s way to stop the spread of COVID-19 and save lives. Currently, 450,000 people are incarcerated for a drug related charge, and even if we released them all it would not be enough to flatten the curve in prisons and jails. That’s why we must release as many incarcerated individuals as possible to slow the spread of the virus. Join with us to help save lives by demanding that Congress immediately release people behind bars that are most vulnerable to COVID-19. While we are encouraged by the actions taken by some state officials to begin releasing people, it is not enough, and it simply isn’t being done at the volume and speed necessary to outrun the virus. Mass criminalization in and of itself is a public health crisis. COVID-19 has simply magnified the injustices that have always been present, the seriousness and urgency of which demands immediate action. Fighting this pandemic requires putting public health first. Together, we can and must ensure the safety of those most vulnerable to infection as well as broader society. Sincerely, Maritza Perez Director, National Affairs Drug Policy Alliance |
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