Rep. Pressley calls for wide range of prisoners to be released for at least one year

image_pdfimage_print

Chris Lisinsk
State House News Service

Warning that prisons and jails are “major incubators” of the highly infectious coronavirus, U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley proposed legislation Thursday that would require large numbers of people to be released from incarceration or custody for at least one year.

The bill, which Pressley introduced alongside Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Rep. Barbara Lee of California, would require states that receive federal funds through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program to release a range of individuals, including those who have not been convicted and are awaiting trial, those detained on federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement waivers, inmates who are pregnant, terminally ill or medically vulnerable, and inmates 55 and older.

Debate about how to limit COVID transmission in correctional facilities has been tense, with advocates demanding for months that state and federal officials take more significant steps to reduce inmate populations and opponents warning about the implications on public safety. According to data cited by Pressley’s office, more than 68,000 incarcerated Americans have tested positive for COVID-19 and deaths are on the rise.

“We continue to be in the midst of an unprecedented pandemic that is claiming the lives of our most vulnerable. Public health is public safety, and in this moment, we must prioritize decarceration to save lives and protect communities before it is too late,” Pressley said in a press release. “Involvement in the legal system should not be a death sentence due to COVID-19, and this bill can save lives.”

About Michael Silvia

Served 20 years in the United States Air Force. Owner of New Bedford Guide.

Check Also

54-year-old New Bedford career criminal, cocaine trafficker, sentenced to prison

“A 54-year-old New Bedford career criminal, who was convicted after a week-long jury trial last …

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Translate »