April 11, 2020: New York, New York
New York State Prison System’s New COVID-19 Webpage and Database
Raises Serious Questions and Concerns about the Spread of Coronavirus in Prisons
Today, the Release Aging People in Prison Campaign, Parole Preparation Project, #HALTsolitary Campaign, VOCAL-NY, Worth Rises, and Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club released the following statement in response to the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) creating a new COVID-19 website and database:
“DOCCS’ new COVID-19 webpage and database raises serious questions and concerns about the spread of Coronavirus in New York State prisons. DOCCS did the right thing by releasing the webpage and database. New Yorkers deserve to know how this vicious virus is impacting and harming people in prison, and this is one way to ensure that.’
However, how is it possible that there are 103 confirmed cases of COVID-19 among incarcerated people, while 467 prison staff have tested positive when they live and work in close proximity? Is DOCCS under testing or underreporting the number of cases among incarcerated people? Will this data be broken down by race and location so the public knows who and which prisons are most impacted by the virus? And most importantly, as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to skyrocket, why hasn’t Governor Cuomo taken any action to release people from prison? The Governor needs to grant wide ranging clemencies now. Otherwise, this new webpage will just be a tragic tally of completely avoidable deaths.”
