November 5 According to the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) report, more than 2,000 prisoners were released urgently on the 4th local time in New Jersey to slow the spread of the Coronavirus in the state prison system. New Jersey Department of Corrections spokesperson Liz Velez (Liz Velez) said in a statement that the number of Coronavirus cases in state prisons is increasing
2261 prisoners who are about to serve their sentences have been released on the 4th. Statistics from the New Jersey Department of Corrections show that as of the morning of the 4th, at least 51 prisoners had died of Coronavirus, and a total of 4,111 confirmed cases, including prison staff and prisoners.
Velez said that according to regulations, prisons do not need to consider whether they are infected with Coronavirus when releasing prisoners. Among the released prisoners, 11 have tested positive for Coronavirus. They will take “special transportation” and undergo medical isolation. Vélez also said that the released prisoners will be provided with transportation and housing assistance, masks and other resources to help control the spread of the virus.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed a sentence reduction bill in October to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the state prison system. According to the new law, prisoners in New Jersey can receive a reduction of up to 8 months for every month they serve during the COVID-19 pandemic.
People serving sentences for murder or sexual assault, sex offenders, and prisoners serving sentences in federal and county prisons are not eligible.
Amol Sinha, executive chairman of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, expressed the hope that this new law will become a “road map” for other parts of the United States to follow. She said in a statement: “The spread of Coronavirus in New Jersey prisons has become the place with the highest death rate from Coronavirus in the United States.
This is a public health problem in itself. Deaths caused by Coronavirus can be prevented. Fortunately. Yes, with the signing of the bill, the State of New Jersey has taken measures to prevent more unnecessary deaths.”
