NEW TASK FORCE UNITES LAW ENFORCEMENT AND JUSTICE SYSTEM FIRST RESPONDERS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO URGE CONGRESS TO AID THEIR FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19 IN CORRECTIONS SYSTEM
As Debate Over Federal Support for States and Localities Rages and Washington Considers Upcoming Relief Legislation, Safety Officials Push for Emergency Support to Stop Coronavirus Spread
Task Force Includes Respected Judges, Sheriffs, Corrections Officials, Prosecutors, Public Defenders, and Elected Officials from Red, Blue and Purple States
(WASHINGTON, DC) - Today, as debate continues over whether to provide emergency relief to state and local jurisdictions to fight COVID-19, Justice Action Network announced a broad coalition of state and local officials—sheriffs, judges, prosecutors, defense lawyers, legislators, and corrections administrators—who are sounding the alarm on the need for federal emergency aid to justice systems across the country. These leaders are on the front lines in the fight to contain the disturbing spread of coronavirus in jails and prisons, protect public health, and keep communities safe.
As jails and prisons emerge as the nation’s most significant hot spots for devastating spread of the disease, justice system first responders must scramble to reduce dangerous overcrowding, while struggling with crippling understaffing due to infections and quarantines, insufficient technology to continue essential services, and a dearth of resources to address addiction and mental health issues. Now, the most well-respected voices in red, blue, and purple states across the country are urging their federal delegations to help them meet the unprecedented challenges of maintaining public health and public safety during this crisis.
“These state and local leaders are on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis, burning the candle at both ends to reduce jail and prison populations, while maintaining their daily public safety duties with limited staffing and exhausted resources,” said Justice Action Network Executive Director Holly Harris. “We assembled this task force because we want Congress to hear directly from those in their own backyards who are battling this pandemic. By lifting up their voices and telling their stories, we hope Congress will be moved to provide emergency aid to those jurisdictions addressing dangerous overcrowding, while also dealing with shuttered addiction treatment and mental health services, insufficient technology to continue essential services, and chronic understaffing due to infections in their own ranks.
The hard work and creativity of these state and local leaders in the face of unprecedented adversity has saved lives inside and outside of the justice system. We urge Congress to listen to this group, and ensure that the next COVID-19 package supports state and local justice systems that are working in the best interest of public health and public safety.”
The task force will present a report next week, focusing on their efforts to reduce overcrowding in jails and prisons, the unprecedented challenges they are facing during this crisis, and the support they need from Congress to continue to keep their communities safe and healthy.
“During this unprecedented pandemic, bloated prison and jail populations place incarcerated people and correctional staff at great risk for contracting and spreading COVID-19,” said Former Assistant Federal Public Defender for the Central District of California, Rachel Rossi. “Many states and local governments across the country are working to keep our communities safe and healthy by reducing the number of people in prisons and jails. Congressional funding is needed to incentivize further safe reductions in incarceration and to allocate resources to local jurisdictions, agencies and community-based organizations for improved reentry services and resources.”
“We’ve seen jails and prisons become hot spots for catastrophic spread of COVID-19,” said Commonwealth Attorney for Kentucky’s 16th Judicial Circuit, Rob Sanders. “In order to protect people in and around our detention center, such as corrections officers, law enforcement, health care workers and their families, we took proactive steps to reduce our jail population by more than 50%. But with addiction and mental health services severely limited, our already overburdened law enforcement officers are pulling double duty to maintain public health and public safety, even while their ranks are strained by illness and quarantine. I urge more support for our law enforcement, as well as assistance to our vital non-profit community partners who help ensure those who leave custody do not return.”
“As the former Sheriff of Montgomery County and someone with over 30 years of law enforcement experience, I’m intimately familiar with the criminal justice needs our counties have, which are only more urgent during this time of crisis,” said Ohio Representative Phil Plummer (R-40). “Our first responders are on the front lines of this pandemic, and they need our support. We hope Congress will prioritize funding for state and local governments and the organizations that partner with them to provide vital housing, employment, reentry, and treatment services for those who need it during this crucial time.”
“As Georgia and states across the country start to reopen their economies, it is critical that the government not stand in the way of those who are ready and willing to work, regardless of their past mistakes,” said Hall County, Georgia Solicitor General Stephanie Woodard. “The last thing our overburdened and understaffed law enforcement needs right now is an influx of individuals who couldn’t secure work, and returned to crime as a result. A job is the greatest deterrent to recidivism, so I look forward to seeing Congressional action on initiatives to reduce bureaucratic hurdles to employment and meaningful work opportunities.”
More information about the members can be found at https://www.justiceactionnetwork.org/task-force