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States that are expanding prison releases and saving lives right now (thanks to sustained, relentless advocacy) - a thread:
1/13
(If you know of others, DM or comment, please!)
1/13
(If you know of others, DM or comment, please!)
Massachusetts: State Supreme Court ruled that people held for technical probation/parole violations are eligible for hearings to determine if they can be released. 2/13 https://www.wbur.org/news/2020/04/03/sjc-prisoners-emergency-petition-ruling
Kentucky: Gov. Beshear signed an executive order to commute the sentences of 186 people convicted of felonies. The state also plans to release 743 people who are within 6 months of completing their sentences. 3/13 https://www.wdrb.com/news/kentucky-plans-to-release-more-than-900-prisoners-because-of-the-covid-19-outbreak/article_aef84282-7541-11ea-8a18-efe5a8cf107d.html
West Virginia: DOC reduced the prison population by over 100 people in March. The releases included 70 people who were serving short prison terms for "parole-related sanctions." 4/13 https://wchstv.com/news/coronavirus/wva-taking-steps-to-reduce-inmate-population-amid-covid-19-pandemic
California: CDCR announced on March 31 that it would expedite the transition to parole for 3,500 people convicted of nonviolent offenses with 60 days or less left on their sentences, with priority going to individuals with less than 30 days left. 5/13 https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/490498-california-to-release-3500-non-violent-inmates-amid-coronavirus-outbreak
Georgia: Board of Pardons and Paroles has begun to review approximately 200 people for early release. All are people serving time for nonviolent offenses who are within 180 days of completing their sentences (or of theoretically making parole). 6/13 https://www.ajc.com/news/local/breaking-georgia-release-some-inmates-due-covid-fears/np6zhBrlP1oe2jOkUmWVoL/
New York: Governor Cuomo announced that up to 1,100 people who are being held in jails and prisons across the state may be released with community supervision. 7/13 https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Deaths-surge-again-in-New-York-from-coronavirus-15160973.php
Colorado: In an executive order, Gov. Polis granted DOC director broad authority to release people within 180 days of their parole eligibility date, and suspended limits on awarding earned time, to allow for earlier release dates. 8/13 https://www.coloradoindependent.com/2020/03/26/colorado-moratorium-prisons-inmates-covid-19-cspii/
Utah: DOC has recommended over 80 people for release from state prisons to the Board of Pardons and Parole. The DOC reports that the people referred for release are within 90 days of completing their sentences. 9/13
https://corrections.utah.gov/index.php/home/alerts-2/1239-utah-identifies-early-releases-to-create-additional-capacity-within-correctional-facilities
https://corrections.utah.gov/index.php/home/alerts-2/1239-utah-identifies-early-releases-to-create-additional-capacity-within-correctional-facilities
Rhode Island: The DOC is evaluating people with less than 4 years on their sentences to see if they can apply "good time" and release them early. 10/13 https://www.southcoasttoday.com/news/20200325/ri-prisons-looking-to-reduce-inmate-numbers-due-to-virus
Illinois: Governor signed an executive order that eases the restrictions on early prison releases for "good behavior" by waiving the required 14-day notification to the State Attorney's office. 11/13 http://loyolaphoenix.com/2020/03/illinois-reaches-1285-covid-19-cases-gov-pritzker-eases-restrictions-on-prison-release/
Iowa: The DOC director reported the planned, expedited release of about 700 incarcerated people who have been determined eligible for release by the Iowa Board of Parole. 12/13 https://www.timesrepublican.com/news/todays-news/2020/03/iowas-prisons-will-accelerate-release-of-approved-inmates-to-mitigate-covid-19/
North Dakota: The parole board granted early release dates to 56 people (out of 60 people who applied for consideration) held in state prison with expected release dates later in March and early April. 13/13 https://rapidcityjournal.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/doc-noem-not-planning-special-coronavirus-releases-from-prisons/article_d999f510-7c7c-5d19-ab3a-77176002ef99.html
