Corrections systems that employ early, aggressive, mitigation strategies have fewer cases and slower spread. Mitigation efforts should include minimizing the number of members of the public who enter facilities and screening them all for symptoms, including elevated temperatures, and for contact with suspected community infections. Other critical steps include masking staff and inmates, having inmates exit their cells in cohorts of 10 or fewer, and limiting movement throughout the facility. Many mitigation strategies are short-term. Lockdowns limit spread but can lead to mental health concerns, including anxiety, over the long term. Dorm-style or open housing units cannot even be “locked down.” We must develop additional solutions.
Lower inmate density means less spread. Therefore, population reduction is essential to managing this crisis. Systems should couple existing mechanisms with creative new strategies to reduce density. Already, executive branches have expanded compassionate release and commutations, but long-term legislative solutions are clearly necessary as well.
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