More than a dozen people got together Friday afternoon, in separate cars, socially distancing from one another, to demand that those with lower-level, nonviolent offenses be released to stop the potential spread of coronavirus within in the jails.

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WEST PALM BEACH — Kaliyah Louis was waving goodbye to Kiano Smith, her soon-to-be husband, from the parking lot of the Palm Beach County Jail when the cars came through with signs taped to their windows and their horns honking.

"COVID-19 is a death sentence to men/women not yet sentenced by a judge" one sign read.

"Release those with bonds under $10k," another demanded.

One simply said, "Inmate health is public health."

Louis said her fiance, who was arrested on charges of aggravated assault with a weapon, has been in the jail for nearly two weeks and grows concerned with the close proximity to others while at least two corrections deputies have tested positive for the coronavirus.

"Right now he’s scared and he has asthma," she said. "I’m scared and I want him to come home."

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More than a dozen people, consisting of advocacy-group members and attorneys, got together Friday afternoon in separate cars, socially distancing from one another, to protest the policies of State Attorney Dave Aronberg and Sheriff Rick Bradshaw in light of the coronavirus.

They demanded those inmates with lower-level, nonviolent offenses be released to stop the potential spread of COVID-19 in the jails.

Fearful of outbreaks

As of Wednesday, there were no positive cases among inmates, but at least five were being held in isolation as a precaution, according to the sheriff’s office. Two of those were awaiting test results.

Denise Rock, executive director of Florida Cares, a group that advocates on behalf of the incarcerated, said while she normally focuses on those in the custody of the Florida Department of Corrections, she knew it was time to shift gears when she heard what was happening in the county she calls home,.

"We're not asking for violent people to be released," she said. "I fear we will have a situation like what's going on in New York and not it's something they can't control."

At the Rikers Island jail complex in New York City, there were at least 167 positive cases of coronavirus among inmates as of March 30.

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Debra Bennett, with a bottle of Lysol on her dashboard and a mask over her face, stood up through the sunroof of a vehicle with a megaphone in hand.

Bennett, who served 19 years in prison on drug and theft charges, said she felt she needed to be out there because when she was in prison, there was no voice for her.

"There’s no way to social distance in these jails," she said. "They’re scared in there. We’re scared out here and we have hand sanitize and can social distance."

Bradshaw has repeatedly said even though other sheriffs across the country have started to release those accused of lower-level, nonviolent crimes in the midst of the international public-health crisis, he would not.

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Instead, he said those in the jail are there for a reason and may even be safer inside his jail than outside

"The public defender and the state attorney, if they want to reduce some people’s bonds, that’s fine," he said at a news conference Sunday. "But I’m not releasing people from the jail."

Signals of change

Aronberg said in a written statement after the protests Friday that his office is working on several things with the Public Defender’s Office "in an effort to balance public health and public safety during this pandemic."

One of the items addressed is a temporary bond schedule that either would reduce or eliminate bonds for certain nonviolent, low-level felonies. In addition, he said the offices are "working to identify nonviolent offenders currently in jail who do not pose a risk to the community."

"Our goal is to keep our community safe while responding to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 virus."

Public Defender Carey Haughwout, who stood outside her West Palm Beach office Friday to wave as protesters drove past Aronberg’s office and the courthouse, has been working with her attorneys to move forward on as many bond motion hearings as possible in an effort to get people out who can't afford higher bonds.

On Friday, Haughwout said she was "encouraged by recent communication around the bond schedule that may make it easier and quicker for some to get out."

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As the cars made their way around the parking lot of the back of the jail, waving and honking at those inside, the inmates shouted back and waved. One of them was Smith, Louis’ fiance.

Louis, who said she also was recently arrested on fleeing charges, said Smith asked her to visit him every day "just in case he does have the coronavirus."

"He just wants to see me because he’s scared," she said.

hwinston@pbpost.com

@HannahWinston