Reflecting on the Response to COVID-19 in Prisons and Jails

You must use and cite reputable sources. For the purposes of this assignment, these sources need not be academic, peer-reviewed articles, but they must meet general standards of credibility.

Start with the official websites for the department of correction in the state you have chosen. I chose the state of Massachusetts. How does the department describe its own COVID-19 efforts? Then conduct a mixed-media search for news stories, podcasts, and editorials that discuss the response. For this assignment, we will focus on prevention efforts, prison population reduction efforts, and community impacts.

Tip: Keep in mind the differences between jails and prisons.

Scope (10 points, 4-6 sentences)

Briefly describe the scope of the problem in the jurisdiction providing specific and timely estimates of the prison population size and the prevalence of COVID-19 for the prison population (where possible distinguish between incarcerated persons and people who work in prisons).

• Clearly introduces the jurisdiction being examined and provides relevant background (i.e., key features of the place that unfamiliar readers should know) (1 point)
• Clearly describes prison and jail population sizes, citing reputable sources (4 points)
• Clearly describes confirmed number of COVID-19 cases reported in prisons and jails, citing reputable sources (4 points)
• Distinguishes between incarcerated persons and staff where possible (1 point)

Prevention Efforts (10 points, 5-7 sentences)

What efforts did the jurisdiction take to try to prevent or slow the spread of COVID-19 in its correctional institutions?

• Use and cite reputable sources to provide concrete examples of the jurisdiction’s preventative/reactive efforts. This discussion can also include the lack of preventative measures if applicable. (5 points)
• Use and cite reputable sources to confirm whether these efforts succeeded in slowing the spread of the virus. (5 points)

Population Reduction Efforts (10 points, 6-8 sentences)

Has the jurisdiction engaged in any prison population reduction efforts (including early and/or compassionate release)? If so, what sorts of efforts have been undertaken and how much has the jurisdiction been able to reduce the prison population?

• Use and cite reputable sources to provide examples of prison population reduction efforts. (6 points)
  • If there is evidence of reduction efforts, what sorts have been undertaken?
  • If there is no evidence of reduction efforts, what sorts have been proposed but ultimately denied? Why?
• Use and cite reputable sources that detail the number of people released from prisons as a direct result of COVID-19. Did this lead to a sizable reduction in the prison population? Is there reason to believe their release numbers will continue to grow?(4 points)

Community Impact (5 points, 6-8 sentences)

Is there any evidence of community impacts of these efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in prisons? How have prevention and prison population reduction efforts been described in the media?

• Use and cite reputable sources to identify community impacts of reduction efforts (or lack thereof). If evidence is not readily available, what do you imagine the impacts might be given the reduction efforts you have detailed?(3 points)
• Use and cite primary news sources to describe how prevention and prison population reduction efforts have been described in the media. (2 points)