It is no secret that the prison system is harsh and rigorous for both staff and inmates. Many inmates struggle with having access to care and resources when imprisoned. The Crime Report published an article about these difficulties and how dozens of prisons, including ones in Louisiana, Connecticut, Illinois, and Pennsylvania, are facing legal charges and being targeted in COVID-19 civil rights lawsuits.
Inmates tell their stories of how they were denied access to medical services and resources when sick or at-risk of contracting COVID-19. Prison staff, as well as inmates, struggle with COVID-19 procedures. There are shortages and difficulties when it comes to having enough staff to run facilities due to COVID-19 protocols. Inmates and staff feel wronged and are fighting back against the violations they have suffered while incarcerated and working for the prison systems. The lawsuits highlight that correctional authorities’ response to COVID-19 has been defined by inaction and resulted in consequences in the health and well-being of staff and inmates. Many individuals are seeking the release of inmates who are at high risk of contracting COVID-19 to help reduce the death toll that has been spreading through facilities.
As of July 21st, approximately 70,700 individuals behind bars have tested positive for COVID-19 and more than 700 have passed away, with these numbers continuing to rise. The well-being and safety of officers and inmates should be a priority. In order to help mitigate the spread and keep people safe, de-incarceration and community supervision has been the go to. Innovative solutions need to be considered in order to stop the spread and keep lawsuits at bay.
TRACKtech supports the health and well-being of officers and their clients in these hard times. With our solutions, probation and parole officers can remotely check-in with individuals through biometric identification and video conferencing. This allows both to stay at home and keep social distancing protocols while still being able to monitor the individual through geofencing built in to our TRACKphone. TRACkphone also provides resources and programs for rehabilitation and to help individuals feel at ease after being incarcerated. It is an adjustment into the society, especially during COVID-19. Community supervision is becoming the new norm as it reduces populations at risk of contracting COVID-19 in facilities and the costs of incarceration. Mobile supervision is one solution to the problems that keep arising in the criminal justice industry and the safety measures needed to take to mitigate COVID-19.