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Prisons
As COVID-19 was spreading to several prisons in the U.S., some states and local jurisdictions began to release prisoners considered vulnerable to the virus. To reduce transmission, the Federal Bureau of Prisons started a near-lockdown for all prisoners on April 1, for at least 14 days. Part of this push has involved a call to reduce prison size, particularly in response to repeated outbreaks in prisons. Some efforts have been made to reduce spread, such as by limiting transfers into state prisons. Still, according to a June 2020 report from Prison Policy Initiative, most states have received failing grades for their response to COVID-19 outbreaks in state prisons.

Current Statistics on COVID-19 in prisons
The Coronavirus is spreading rapidly throughout correctional facilities. As of October 27, 2020, 161,323 prisoners in the United States have tested positive for Covid-19. The number of reported cases per week peaked the week of August 11 with 8,755 reported cases. Texas, which has reported 23,362 cases as of October 27, 2020, has the largest total number of cases among prisoners in the United States by state. As of October 27, 2020, there have also been at least 1,320 deaths due to Covid-19 among prisoners. Florida has reported the most deaths among prisoners due to Covid-19, with a total of 170 reported deaths (20 deaths per 10,000 prisoners). This reported data has also shown that black prisoners have been disproportionately affected by Covid-19. In Missouri, as of May 13, 2020, black prisoners made up 58% of the positive tests while only making up 33% of the total prison population. Additionally in Vermont, as of May 20, 2020, 18% of prisoners who had tested positive for Covid-19 were black while only 9% of all prisoners were black. The limited testing that has been done in correctional facilities suggests that the number of Covid-19 cases among prisoners is much higher than what has been reported. Additionally, there is little available data about Covid-19 cases among the prison staff because many of them are not being regularly tested.

Causes and Effects of COVID-19 in Prisons

Prison inmates are more than four times as likely to contract COVID-19 and twice as likely to die from the virus when compared to the general population. This elevated vulnerability can be attributed to several factors, including overcrowding and at risk prison demographics. As of late 2018, prisons across 25 states as well as the Federal Bureau of Prisons reached their maximum capacity. In these crowded conditions, social distancing and quarantining is not always possible, increasing the likelihood of prisoners in custody getting infected. Prison populations also include a large percentage of people older than the age of 55, a higher risk demographic for COVID-19. As of 2016, the percentage of older people in state prisons was 12% and the percentage of older people in federal prisons was 11%, both of which continue to rise.

The presence of COVID-19 in prisons has caused negative responses among the prison population. Prisons have cut down the number of correctional officers because of the virus, and with less security, violence has increased. Three prisoners in Alabama were killed within the span of one month from March to April earlier this year.