New York – The Brennan Center for Justice sent a letter to each of the nation’s governors urging them to use their authority to release as many people as possible from incarceration for the duration of the pandemic, focusing on people who are vulnerable to infection and don’t pose a threat to public safety.

“Prisons and jails are ripe for staggering levels of COVID-19 infection, due to the close quarters and the limits on sanitation and personal hygiene. That makes everyone inside – those incarcerated and those on staff – sitting ducks for the virus,” said Lauren-Brooke Eisen, director of the Brennan Center’s Justice Program. “Some governors have addressed this crisis head on by reducing their states’ prison populations, while others either haven’t gone far enough or have ignored the pandemic’s threat.”

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– Brennan Center for Justice