Elected prosecutors in San Francisco, Contra Costa County and more than two dozen other jurisdictions across the United States are calling for the country’s jail and prisons to release numerous groups of people in an effort to stave off the spread of COVID-19.

In a joint statement released Tuesday, the 31 prosecutors — including San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin and Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton — listed 17 recommendations for reducing incarcerated populations, ensuring humane and protective treatment for those who remain confined, and protecting immigrant communities.

The prosecutors’ statement adds to a chorus of similar calls made by civil rights advocates and as jail and prison officials take steps to reduce the chance of exposure.

“Make no mistake, an outbreak of the coronavirus in incarceration and detention settings will spread quickly and impact not simply those behind bars, but our entire community,” said Miriam Krinsky, executive director of Fair and Just Prosecution, the prosecutor network that organized the statement.

The recommendations include adopting cite and release policies, releasing individuals who are not a threat to the community and who are being held because they can’t afford bail, releasing the elderly, those with medical conditions and those within six months of completing their sentence. The statement also calls for reducing immigrant detention populations.

Krinsky said organizers reached out to their network Sunday and by Monday morning nearly all agreed to sign the letter. The list includes a new wave of progressive prosecutors, including Boudin, Becton, St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner and Philadelphia District Attorney Lawrence Krasner.

Krinsky said some of the recommendations would need to be localized by department, others, like restricting full lockdowns, were “across the board, common sense.”

“Somehow the balance needs to be struck, to keep people healthy and safe without exacerbating the tenseness of the situation and eroding the humanity and due process,” she said.

The recommendations mirror many of those requested by Alameda County Public Defender Brendon Woods, who sent a letter last week to the local courts and the county’s district attorney’s office, Sheriff’s Office and probation department.

“We are in unprecedented territory and in order to protect our community, we are asking for the appropriate authorities to take unusual actions,” Woods wrote.

San Francisco Public Defender Mano Raju sent a similar communique to San Francisco Sheriff Paul Miyamoto, and another to San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott asking for officers to reduce all unnecessary contact with the public.

Alex Bastian, a spokesman for the San Francisco district attorney’s office, said officials are working to balance the role of serving the community while also taking “unprecedented measures” to prevent exposure.

“We know that the jails in a neighboring county have already needed to take specific measure as it relates to COVID exposure,” he said. “We also know that courts across the state have substantially reduced the criminal cases that are currently on the calendar. We are taking all of these factors into consideration and taking the necessary steps to protect our city.”

California jails and prisons are already working to beat back what could be a disastrous outbreak in the closely confined spaces. Many of the lockups have either canceled or reduced visitation and enhanced policies. Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith on Monday said four people in the county jail were exposed to coronavirus. The first two were “immediately isolated.”

The San Francisco Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday afternoon issued a series of statements on Twitter responding to the prosecutors’ letter, arguing that the jails already have stringent guidelines in place and no cases of coronavirus have occurred in the jails.

Megan Cassidy is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: megan.cassidy@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @meganrcassidy