Jails and Prisons Still Among COVID-19 Hotspots

Tags: Currents Coronavirus, Crux, Media, National News, Prison

Currents News Staff

Prisons are a breeding ground for the coronavirus, spreading among a population forced into close quarters. 

The virus has spread rampantly in prisons, and some prison systems have taken unusual steps to stop the spread.

In New York and in Los Angeles, thousands of prisoners have been released. Los Angeles County released a video, showing inmates trying to get the virus so that they can get released.

Are prison system officials educating inmates about how serious this pandemic is?

Some police departments say they’ve been limiting the number of arrests because of this crisis and its impact on prison systems.

This is a big issue for the Catholic Church, as the Holy Father has long advocated for the imprisoned. Are secular governments doing enough to keep them safe?

Are prison system officials educating inmates about how serious this pandemic is?

What will the new normal be once this pandemic is over, and how will that impact the criminal justice system? 

John Paitakes, who has more than 40 years of experience working in the criminal justice system as the former Assistant Chief Probation officer at the Somerset County Probation Department in New Jersey and a criminal justice professor at Rider University, joins Currents News to offer his insight on this issue.