Topline
According to a study published in the American Medical Associations JAMA Network journal, a drastic reduction of the number of people in prison during the coronavirus epidemic by as high as 80% could have prevented millions upon millions of infection-linked deaths and reduced the death rate by tens of thousands.
On April 22, 2020, Las Colinas Women's Detention Facility, Santee, California, inmates made protective masks. - Sheriff's deputies and inmates at the prison practice COVID-19 measures, including wearing masks, keeping safe distances and cleaning more frequently. (Photo taken by Sandy Huffaker / AFP). (Photo by SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP through Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images
The Key Facts
Researchers from Northwestern University and World Bank discovered that America's high levels of incarceration led to constant outbreaks of Covid-19 due to overcrowded jails and the movement of guards and inmates between facilities and their homes. Researchers looked at data from 1,605 U.S. counties, representing 72% of the population. They compared their coronavirus outcomes with their reductions in jail populations to estimate that an 80% decrease in incarceration could have resulted in a 2% drop of daily Covid-19 cases. Although the 2% reduction was conservatively described by researchers, when combined with daily Covid-19 deaths and millions of cases, it would have prevented millions of deaths. Dr. Eric Reinhart from Northwestern University Feinberg School said that the reduction could be as small as 2%. According to the study's authors, alternatives to incarceration could help reduce the national incarceration rates for nonviolent offenses. Data compiled by Prison Policy Initiative shows that most of those in federal and local prisons are nonviolent offenders. State prisons have a 45% rate. Communities of color would see the most impact from reducing incarceration, Reinhart stated that the covid-19 spread from jails is likely to account for large racial disparities seen during the pandemic.
Big Number
220,000 According to the study, that's approximately how many full-time jail employees commute between their communities, work, and home each day. It also highlights that about 200,000 detainees cycle through U.S. prison facilities each week.
Surprising Fact
Researchers also examined how incarceration could be reduced relative to other anti-contagion strategies in terms of decreasing the daily growth rate for Covid-19 cases within these counties. The biggest reductions were seen in nursing home visits (7.3%), school closings (4.3%), and mask mandates (2.5%). According to this analysis, wearing masks in public places is only 0.5% more effective than cutting prison populations as a coronavirus mitigation strategy.
Important Quote
This study found that COVID-19 cases were prevented by jail decarceration, several anticontagion policy, including school closures and school visitation prohibitions. Researchers wrote that these policies could have been more effective if they were more widely implemented.
Important Background
Both prisons and jails saw significant declines in the number people being held during the coronavirus pandemic. As many places were moved to release nonviolent offenders, the prison population was also reduced. The Vera Institute of Justice's June report found that the number of people in prisons at the end of last year was 185,000, compared to 758,000 prior to the pandemic. The Marshall Project analysis shows that jail populations are slowly creeping back to pre-pandemic levels, even though the delta variant continues driving major Covid-19 spikes. With more than one fifth of U.S. prisoners being infected, prisons and jails remain hotspots.
