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This represents thousands of hours of labor, phone calls, emails, FOIA requests, frustration, joy, shock, horror, and basically the past year of my life.
But more importantly, it tells the story of the often forgotten incarcerated population. A thread: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/04/10/us/covid-prison-outbreak.html
But more importantly, it tells the story of the often forgotten incarcerated population. A thread: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/04/10/us/covid-prison-outbreak.html
"At Pickaway Correctional Institution in Ohio, which housed about 1,900 inmates, they tried to turn bed sheets into tents to separate themselves; four in five inmates were infected anyway."
Their story is not unique. More than 530,000 inmates have contracted COVID-19.
Their story is not unique. More than 530,000 inmates have contracted COVID-19.
We've probably talked to hundreds of people to learn about life on the inside. Long story short: inmates are scared. Their loved ones worry when they will see them again, especially since in-person visitation was restricted.
Though their story isn't included in this article, I think about Keith and Jewell, a couple from Montana. They at first joked about COVID-19 spreading through the jail like a monster in movies they loved watching. But then "damnit it got him." COVID-19 almost killed him.
Prison officials struggled.
A Kentucky official told me she has spent tireless nights worrying and praying the population will be okay. She prayed that God would give them grace.
An NC official said “It feels like we’re holding this together with bubble gum and packaging tape."
A Kentucky official told me she has spent tireless nights worrying and praying the population will be okay. She prayed that God would give them grace.
An NC official said “It feels like we’re holding this together with bubble gum and packaging tape."
This thread could go on forever. Luckily, some of the past reporting covers the extent of the problem.
In June, the threat of COVID-19 was like a sword hanging over inmates' heads. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/16/us/coronavirus-inmates-prisons-jails.html?smid=tw-share
In June, the threat of COVID-19 was like a sword hanging over inmates' heads. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/16/us/coronavirus-inmates-prisons-jails.html?smid=tw-share
On May 30, the inmates from Chino boarded buses for San Quentin after being told they were being transferred to reduce overcrowding." Weeks later, an inmate told his wife people were dropping right in front of him. - Timothy Williams & @rebach97 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/30/us/san-quentin-prison-coronavirus.html
"In Cascade County, more than 300 inmates and staff members have been infected in a facility meant to hold 365 people, the county’s first major outbreak in a region where the virus is suddenly surging." - @mcturcotte @lucytompkins2 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/16/us/rural-jails-coronavirus-mountain-west.html
"States and counties are finding it hard to keep jails and prisons open as the virus ravages both prisoners and staff members. But transferring inmates can spur new outbreaks." - @BCDerr @danyasawi @rebach97 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/01/us/coronavirus-prisons-jails-closing.html?smtyp=cur&smid=tw-nytimes
I could go on and on. I never thought I would be talking to inmates, their loves ones, and prison officials, but I am so incredibly grateful for every source who shared their story with me. They always said they were glad someone was actually listening. It broke my heart.
And I'm forever thankful for these people (aka, the peeps) who made this possible.
@izzycolon27, @BCDerr, @rebach97, @AHingaKlein, @danyasawi, @chloerreynolds, @derek_m_norman, @rachsherm, @mcturcotte, Timothy Williams (the orange blob), and @nytgraphics!
Check out our work!
@izzycolon27, @BCDerr, @rebach97, @AHingaKlein, @danyasawi, @chloerreynolds, @derek_m_norman, @rachsherm, @mcturcotte, Timothy Williams (the orange blob), and @nytgraphics!
Check out our work!
