Organizations to US Attorney: Reduce Prison Population to Minimize COVID Risks

The Wilson Center for Science and Justice is one of several organizations that signed on to a letter last week urging U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland to augment efforts to transfer federal incarcerated persons to home confinement and pursuant to compassionate release, and to not pursue re-incarceration of released persons.

The single most effective strategy for minimizing the COVID-19 risk to incarcerated individuals, staff and communities involves reducing the prison population. The letter explores several ways for the Bureau of Prisons to "more robustly" implement a home confinement program, utilize compassionate release and participate another release programs under relevant provisions of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).

Read the full letter below.