A jail in Ohio released dozens of inmates early out of concern they might contract the coronavirus if it spread throughout the jail.
Judges in Cuyahoga County Court held a rare special session Saturday to settle a litany of cases. A total of 38 inmates were released after appearing in court for cases involving low-level, nonviolent offenses. Twenty-nine people who were recently arrested also appeared before a judge on Saturday to avoid having them wait until Monday.
More expedited hearings will take place this week.
“You gotta remember, the goal of this is to protect the community and the safety of the inmates. If someone’s a serious violent person, well, we’re using our discretion to make sure the community’s safe also,” Administrative Judge Brendan Sheehan said last week.
[Click here for complete coronavirus coverage]
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Mike O’Malley said he is concerned prisons in the state might stop accepting inmates.
“We have to acknowledge that that is a possibility, which makes every day critical, every day between now and God forbid, the day that they stop the flow of our prisoners,” O’Malley told Fox 8.
The county sheriff has also requested that local jails keep inmates in their facilities for the time being instead of sending them to the county jail for processing.
Ohio has seen at least 37 cases of the coronavirus, and Gov. Mike DeWine on Sunday ordered all bars and restaurants in the state to close for in-person service indefinitely.
Over the weekend, Massachusetts Rep. Ayanna Pressley called for the commuting of prisoner sentences in response to the outbreak.
“I’m just advocating to make sure that when we are talking about those that are most vulnerable, our low-income residents and citizens, those experiencing homelessness, our seniors, that we are also including the incarcerated men and women who are certainly amongst one of the most vulnerable populations,” Pressley said. “And given the crowding and overpopulating in our prisons for a confluence of other reasons … are an ecosystem in a petri dish for the spreading of this pandemic.”
