Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic

Last update: September 11, 2020

Jails releasing people

Jails and prisons house large numbers of people with chronic diseases and complex medical needs who are more vulnerable to COVID-19.

One of the best ways to protect these people is to reduce overcrowding in correctional facilities. Many jails are already making these changes:

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Wisconsin Nevada



Reducing the cost of phone and video calls

Most federal prisons, state prisons and many local jails have decided to drastically reduce or completely eliminate friends and family visitation so as to reduce the risk of COVID-19 exposure in facilities. In normal times, we would point to the significant evidence that sustained meaningful contact with family and friends benefits incarcerated people in the long run, including reducing recidivism. But it is even more important, in this time of crisis, for incarcerated people to know that their loved ones are safe and vice versa. While many facilities have suspended in-person visitation, only a few have made an effort to supplement this loss by waiving fees for phone calls and video communication. Here are four notable examples:

If you know of notable reforms that should be listed here, please let us know at virusresponse@prisonpolicy.org. We won’t list everything, but we appreciate what you can send us.