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Post by Admin on Jul 16, 2020 11:26:59 GMT
California Gov. to Order the Release of 8,000 Prisoners Amid COVID-19 Surge
Gavin Newsome
Image via Getty/Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times
Complex| Jul 10, 2020 In an effort to contain the recent surge in coronavirus cases, Gov. Gavin Newsom is expected to release approximately 8,000 inmates across California's prison system. According to the Mercury News, the Democratic lawmaker will announce the move Friday afternoon in wake of the massive COVID-19 outbreaks at a number of correctional facilities. It was recently reported that San Quentin prison had over 1,300 confirmed infections among its inmates and staff—that's more than half of the state's active coronavirus prison cases. As of Friday afternoon, six of the reported infected prisoners have died. The devastating outbreak has prompted activists and officials to pressure Gov. Newsom to clear additional space within the prisons, where social distancing measures are difficult to implement. Alameda County Chief Public Defender Brendon Woods, a major prisoner rights advocate, is among those who have called for the immediate release of additional inmates in California.
Mercury News reports the releases will take place over the next several weeks, with low-level offenders getting priority. California previously released about 3,500 prisoners back in April, weeks after Newsom implemented a stay-at-home order.
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Post by Scarlet Pimpernel on Jul 20, 2020 19:41:31 GMT
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