COVID Prison Reform.

Let’s start with the numbers the reformers talk about:

• US leads the world in the # of incarcerated per 100,000 citizens
• 500% increase in jail & prison population in the last 40 years
• 10% of all the Black men in America are in jail or prison
• Top 10 COVID clusters in the US are prisons/jails
• 18 of the top 20 COVID clusters in the US are prisons/jails

What state legislation is percolating?

• UTAH
  • Public Health emergencies allow for sentencing changes HB 610 (2020 | UT)
• VIRGINIA
  • Provide early release for elderly, ill, or/& disabled if they’ve served at least 5 years SB 5018 (2020 | VA)

Governing | COVID Prison Disaster Prompts Reform Bills: Legislative Watch