Short thread: The way we choose to present and interpret data says a lot about our society and what we value. For instance, let’s talk about how COVID-19 case numbers are reported in my home county, home to the Washington State Penitentiary. (1/)

Since the first cases of COVID-19 hit the pen, the Walla Walla County has started presenting to us the numbers from the prison *separately* while still including them in the county-wide count. For example, “we have 75 active cases, of which 25 are at the Washington St. Pen.” (2/)

In earlier weeks, when advancing in phases was still happening, the county made the case to the state that *we shouldn’t count* the penitentiary numbers for meeting state thresholds. Essentially, “we would be just like these other counties if it weren’t for the pen.” (3/)

The state, to its credit, didn’t bite. But think about what’s implicit in that argument. The lives of prisoners don’t count as “us.” But more than that, every person who *works in the prison* and could be exposed to COVID-19 through the inmate population, what about them? (4/)

How about the vendors who bring in food and supplies? The guards? The facilities and cleaning crews? They’re exposed to COVID-19 in the pen, and *They live in Walla Walla County.* So do they not count, either? (5/)

I trained as a scientist. You can make data say lots of things if you massage it. But as a Christian and a priest, to massage - and more than that to message and transmit data - in a way that suggests to the inmate population doesn’t affect our county - is wrong. (6/)

No only is it *bad science,* it’s terrible *ethics.* Jesus said that when we visit those in prison, we visit him. Maybe it’s time to act that way, not just in acts of mercy, but acts of analysis and public presentation of data. (7/)

These are *real lives,* prisoners, guards, cafeteria workers, doctors, nurses, facilities crew, vendors - all of them. We should treat it that way. I know Jesus would. (/8) (/end)