Prisoners in the U.S. will begin to release under house arrest because of COVID-19

Recently adopted by the US government stimulus package for the economy of the country in terms of the outbreak of coronavirus, among other things, simplified the criteria by which you can send prisoners to serve their sentences at home.

Photo: RIA Novosti the United States has allocated $ 8 billion to fight the coronavirus

Previously, this mode could only be entered for those who have spent more than 90 percent of his term and was released in less than 6 months.

122 prisons in the United States reported the detection of coronavirus prisoners or staff

However, first in prisons will wait for the completion of the 14-day quarantine, which was introduced for all prisoners last week. Under this measure, all prisoners shall, within two weeks not to leave their rooms after an outbreak of coronavirus in places of deprivation of liberty became out of control. First of all we are talking about the three prisons – Danbury (Connecticut), Oakdale (Louisiana) and Elkton (Ohio), where the situation is particularly difficult. In Oakdale over the last few days died five prisoners who were infected with the coronavirus, and is in Elkton – two.

Relatives of the prisoners and the unions believe that due to the narrowness and weaknesses of medicine in prisons is particularly high risk of infection

in Total, according to the authorities, cases COVID-19 recorded in 122 prisons. Among the prisoners revealed 91 cases of infection among staff, 50 cases. But it is only official statistics, but, as reported by Reuters, prison unions and relatives of the prisoners believe that the real figures are much greater. They have long urged the Federal government to transfer more inmates under house arrest, indicating that for cramped spaces, numerous common areas and weak medicine create all the conditions for the spread of coronavirus in prison.

As you etois detention – in isolation

Advisor of the Federal chamber of lawyers Nver Gasparyan in an interview with “RG” said that, in his opinion, the same measures should be taken in Russia to prevent mass infection of prisoners and protecting their employees in jail. He stressed that in detention centers, the disease can spread with great speed and lead to catastrophic consequences. “In my opinion, the process of change the measure of restraint, courts should be differentiated. The measure of restraint in form of custody could be changed to house arrest, bail, prohibition of certain actions, with the exception of persons accused of committing especially serious crimes against the person, public safety and some other categories, representing an increased danger to the public,” said Nver Gasparyan.

Photo: Ilya Pitalev/RIA Novosti Experts suggest to unload the prison

the Commissioner of the President of Russia for entrepreneurs ‘ rights Boris Titov believes that in connection with the spread of the coronavirus should be released from jail by all businessmen who are accused of crimes in the sphere of entrepreneurial or other economic activities.

Deputy head of the Public monitoring Commission of Moscow, member of the Council for human rights eve Markachev also believes that prisoners convicted of petty articles, is to let loose, to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Prepared Vladislav Kulikov