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Today, when asked about vaccine distribution in prisons & jails, the Governor claimed to not know the definition of “congregate” setting. This comes <24 hours after reporting that yet another person died from COVID-19 in a NY state prison, one of the many congregate settings...
...across the state that cages and employs tens of thousands of New Yorkers. The Governor’s mishandling of this public health crisis that is unfolding in our state’s jails & prisons is either the result of gross incompetence or a complete indifference toward incarcerated people.
Last weekend, two of my colleagues and I visited Fishkill Correctional Facility. These facilities fall squarely within the definition of “congregate.” There’s no question whether everyone in these facilities could & should have been included in phase 1b of vaccine distribution.
The move to vaccinate people ages 65+ in New York jails and prisons was only announced yesterday, shortly after a lawsuit was filed due to the state’s inaction.
This is an important step, but it falls short. It only offers vaccine access to a small subset of incarcerated people.
This is an important step, but it falls short. It only offers vaccine access to a small subset of incarcerated people.
The number of COVID cases and the death count is evidence that expanding vaccine access to people in ALL congregate settings, including jails and prisons, is the only way to comply with best practice recommendations from all public health experts and the CDC.
Beyond this pandemic, we must do everything in our power to pass the Elder Parole, Fair & Timely Parole, and HALT Solitary Confinement legislation. Addressing the worsening incarceration crisis truly is a matter of life and death.
