What You Can Do About COVID-19 in Prisons

 

Advocate for the health of people in prisons.

Part 1: Email your governor (look up).

Script 1: Infectious disease is spreading quickly in prisons, and I’m concerned for everyone who lives and works in these facilities. I’m asking that you exercise your powers to mitigate harm to people by:

1. 1. Commuting sentences and granting clemency to release vulnerable people from incarceration, including those 60 and older and others at high risk. 
   2. Releasing nonviolent offenders and those with under two years remaining on their sentences. 
   3. Implementing testing of the entire prison population, including correctional officers, staff nurses, and chaplains.

Part 2: Contact your state corrections department (look up). 

Script 2: Infectious disease is spreading quickly in prisons, and I’m concerned for everyone who lives and works in these facilities. With COVID-19 deaths on the rise in prisons, I’m asking that parole not be revoked for technical violations while we remain in a pandemic.

Part 3: Contact your district attorney (look up).

Script 3: Infectious disease is spreading quickly in prisons, and I’m concerned for everyone who lives and works in these facilities. I’m asking that you reduce bail to $0 for all low-level, nonviolent offenses to reduce the number of new people entering the system during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Call (again) for the release of all detained aspiring Americans as COVID-19 spreads.

Email: Your state governor (look up).

Script: Hello, I’m writing (again) from [ZIP] about taxpayer-funded ICE detention centers, where confirmed COVID cases are rising and people are dying. Allowing the virus to spread unchecked among staff and people in detention is unacceptable. I am calling on you to protect Americans and aspiring Americans alike by using your emergency powers to evacuate all detention centers in [STATE] immediately. I am confident you share my concern for the welfare of all people. Thank you. 

These actions come from Americans of Conscience Checklist. You can subscribe by going here.