Tell Congress: COVID-19 Relief Must Include Incarcerated People

Releasing the most vulnerable to COVID-19 from our prisons, jails, and immigration detention centers is critical to stopping the spread of the deadly virus in facilities and our broader community. Yet, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) are not using their full authority to safely and swiftly reduce incarcerated populations right now. BOP and DOJ are also issuing confusing and conflicting guidance on who is eligible for release.

There is no time for this level of incompetence when lives are at stake. The Senate must build upon the recently passed House bill and ensure the Emergency Community Supervision Act is included in its next COVID-19 relief package.

Send your urgent message now.

Message Recipients: Your U.S. Senators

COVID-19 Relief Must Include Incarcerated People

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Subject Include Incarcerated People in COVID-19 Relief

As your constituent, I am urging you to build upon the HEROES Act by supporting the Emergency Community Supervision Act (S. 3579 / H.R. 6400) in the next COVID-19 relief package.

This bill will mandate the release of the populations that public health experts argue should have their sentences commuted by the president in response to COVID-19 – including those who are pregnant, those with underlying health issues, and those who are age 50 or older. Had this bill been enacted, it could have prevented the death of Andrea Circle Bear, the first federally incarcerated woman to die from COVID-19, who had just given birth on a ventilator a few weeks before her death.

Additionally, the Emergency Community Supervision Act will limit the use of pretrial detention and in-person supervised release, and prohibit the use of incarceration for technical violations of supervised release.

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Tell Congress: COVID-19 Relief Must Include Incarcerated People

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