Motions to release jailed federal prisoners for “compassionate” reasons jumped 900% during the early days of the coronavirus crisis, according to a new report from the U.S. Sentencing Commission.
At the outset of the crisis, reports were rampant that inmates and jailers were being infected at alarming rates, and efforts were made to thin out jails and send some inmates home.
The commission said that federal jails and courts worked fast on the issue, and the efforts continued as the crisis increased.
The new report, just shared with Secrets, said, “Beginning April 2020, as COVID-19 became widespread, courts resolved substantially more compassionate release motions. The number of offenders for whom courts decided a compassionate release motion increased nearly 900% between March and April 2020 and continued to increase each month between March and July 2020.”
Most were released because of prior health problems, added the report. It said, “For more than 70%, courts cited the offender’s heightened risk of contracting or experiencing serious illness from COVID-19, typically in relation to the offender’s preexisting health conditions or increased age.”
By comparison to larger state populations of inmates, the federal numbers were low. Initially, just over 400 convicts were released for COVID compassionate reasons, and the report said the number decreased as the pandemic wore on.
But it was a positive sign following the Trump administration’s efforts to open the door to compassionate releases, it added.
COVID was also the most cited reason for granting early release, said the report.
On average, 54 months — 41% — were cut off the sentences of those granted COVID release.
