Urges State and Local Officials to Protect People in Prisons and Jails , Recommends Releasing Those with Low-Level Offenses and Those Incarcerated Awaiting Trial Because of an Inability to Pay Bail
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 18, 2020
Media contact: Ana Maria Rosato [email protected]
ATLANTA – Today, the Georgia Department of Corrections announced that one employee had tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.
"People in custody cannot protect themselves. This situation makes it even more urgent for state and local officials to implement procedures to protect all people who are in our prisons and jails from being exposed to and contracting the COVID-19 virus. Individuals who are low-level offenders or who are incarcerated awaiting trial because of an inability to pay cash bail or in custody due to an inability to pay fines and fees should be released,” said Andrea Young, executive director of the ACLU of Georgia.
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