(29 Jun 2020) Michigan Democrat Rep. Rashida Tlaib is calling for the release of eligible inmates in jail or prison during the pandemic to prevent them from contracting the virus while in custody.
Tlaib introduced the legislation along with Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Rep. Karen Bass.
Tlaib says that mass incarceration is a problem that has unfairly plagued communities of color and now during the COVID-19 pandemic, inmates are being "left to die" in overcrowded systems that do not have the resources to treat large amounts of sick people.
"I think it really fits with what we're trying to do right now in dismantling structural racism. Most of the people that are going to be impacted by this are people of color. If you look at who can't afford bail are people of color, if you look at who's an immigrant in detention are people of color," said Tlaib.
"We also have to realize our ultimate responsibility are those that are in our care now, which are those that are incarcerated."
The Congresswoman recognizes that the push for the legislation is still in the early stages and she says will require "education and advocacy to make this a priority."
"I don't see it there yet," she acknowledged.
The legislation would aim to leverage federal money to encourage the release of eligible inmates up to a year after the pandemic ends. Eligible inmates include those awaiting trial; serving misdemeanor sentences; immigrants in Ice detention; pregnant women and primary caregivers; and inmates over 55 or those medically-susceptible to coronavirus
Federal Bureau of Prisons statistics show that more than 1,440 federal inmates have confirmed positive test results for COVID-19 nationwide.
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