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Cook County Jail is Now Largest Source of Coronavirus

The New York Times reports that Chicago's notorious Cook County Jail is now the largest source of the coronavirus in the U.S -- there are more cases at the jail (387) than there were in New Rochelle or on the USS Theodore Roosevelt or in the nursing home in Washington.

As of Tuesday, the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, which operates the jail, said 272 inmates and 115 staff members had tested positive. But because the vast majority of the jail’s 5,000 inmates have not been tested, corrections officers have said the numbers are likely far higher. In late March, the jail had just two diagnoses.

On the federal side, the Bureau of Prisons publishes numbers every day. Today there are:

241 federal inmates and 73 BOP staff who have tested positive for COVID-19 nationwide. There have been 8 federal inmate deaths and 0 BOP staff member deaths attributed to COVID-19 disease.

The virus has hit 31 BOP facilities (prisons and detention centers for those held without bail but not yet convicted) and 6 half way houses.

BOP says it has released 615 inmates on home confinement pursuant to AG Barr's recent order.

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  • Display: Sort:
    Virus release in New York (none / 0) (#1)
    by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Sun Apr 12, 2020 at 07:29:51 AM EST
    Your point is? (none / 0) (#2)
    by Yman on Sun Apr 12, 2020 at 08:02:38 AM EST
    Better to let low-level technical parole violators die?

    Parent
    No. (none / 0) (#7)
    by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Mon Apr 13, 2020 at 03:29:35 PM EST
    The reported median age of fatalities is in the 80's. It may make sense to release those of advanced age or those with other medical issues.

    However, the risk of death to an otherwise healthy 30 year old may actually be higher outside the jail.   The risk to innocent civilian is certainly higher the more that are released.

    Parent

    The order you're talking about ... (none / 0) (#8)
    by Yman on Mon Apr 13, 2020 at 05:58:14 PM EST
    ... only applied to low level technical parole violators, so the risk is low.

    But if you are genuinely concerned for the welfare of prisoners, you should know that jail environments are not remotely comparable to the outside world.  The medical care is of much lower quality and they are generally a much more hospitable environment for contagion.

    US jails will become death traps in the coronavirus pandemic

    Parent

    Another (none / 0) (#9)
    by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Wed Apr 15, 2020 at 03:21:09 PM EST
    You seem to have an issue ... (5.00 / 2) (#12)
    by Yman on Thu Apr 16, 2020 at 06:28:59 PM EST
    ... with the release of low-level, non-violent offenders, even before they're convicted of anything serious.

    Good to know you believe Trump should be locked up.

    Parent

    Who needs jails (none / 0) (#10)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Wed Apr 15, 2020 at 07:28:12 PM EST
    ...when you have meat packing plants. One in North Dakota is now the biggest hot spot in the nation. Plants in Iowa and Colorado are the biggest hot spots in their States. We just shut down one in Greeley.

    Of course, this hits minority populations the hardest.

    South Dakota (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by Chuck0 on Thu Apr 16, 2020 at 12:59:04 PM EST
    Sioux Falls. I've been there to pick up meat in my truck driving days.

    Parent
    Meat packing plants (none / 0) (#13)
    by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Sun Apr 19, 2020 at 04:42:40 PM EST
    have people working elbow to elbow for the most part.  They are kind of like mass transit as being ideal settings to facilitate transmission of infectious disease.  Unlike mass transit most of these plants are doing daily temperature checks and taking other measures.

    Perhaps these meat packers should take Germany's lead and send China a bill.
     

    Parent