One Third Of Jail Inmates Nationwide Set Free in Unprecedented Coronavirus Jailbreak
Richard Moorhead
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A new study reveals that almost a third of county jail inmates have been set free from the facilities during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Prison Policy Initiative study has determined that 32% of inmates at county jails have been set free.
“In the last two months, local governments across the U.S. have drastically reduced their jail populations to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The typical jail has reduced its population by more than 30%.”
Many jails have released up to half of their inmates, with facilities in Oregon, Arkansas and New Jersey releasing between 57% and 63% of their jail inmates.
The release of inmates on coronavirus safety concerns is a jailbreak of arguably unprecedented proportions. The amnesties have already resulted in public safety repercussions, with at least one Orange County prosecutor being vindicated after warning over the release of inmates who he described as “high risk” sex offenders.
Rudy Magdoleno, a repeat felony convict released from an Orange County Jail, was arrested for exposing himself to staff members at a parole center last month. District Attorney Todd Spitzer had warned that Magdoleno was a dangerous offender who shouldn’t have been released.
At least one inmate released from a Colorado prison(as opposed to a jail) was rearrested for first degree murder last week. Cornelius Haney, who was serving time for armed robbery, was set free by Colorado Democratic Governor Jared Polis’ coronavirus prison amnesty. The governor has gone on to make the excuse that Haney’s release would’ve been assured by a parole board anyway.
The prison and jail systems exist for a reason, and the dubious release of large populations of convicted criminals undermines the purpose that the corrections system serves for society. With public infrastructure slowly adjusting to accommodating the stresses of the coronavirus pandemic, it’s time to end the dangerous and questionable jailbreaks.
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