The Impact of COVID-19 on Prisons

Now more than ever, being in prison can be a death sentence. While some might feel like the end of the pandemic is within reach, COVID-19 has a significant impact on the incarcerated population because of overcrowding, lack of access to resources, and its impact on perpetuating mismanagement.

Overcrowding in prisons has become the setup for disaster. In prisons, inmates share cells, toilets, bathrooms, sinks, and dining halls. Social distancing is not an option. As David Patton, executive director and attorney-in-chief of the Federal Defenders of New York says, “If a prisoner knows he is going to be put in solitary confinement if he admits to being sick, which is usually a punishment, then there is a heavy disincentive to seek medical attention”. 

Prisons are also predominantly made up of a vulnerable population. Due to poor diets and lack of access to sufficient medical care, many prisoners are in bad health. Additionally, the old and elderly make up a majority of the population due to decades of extreme sentencing. On top of that, as COVID  outbreaks increase, the guard population decreases. Because of this, there are further violent clashes among inmates.

In addition to all of this, prisons also don’t have ventilator access, or their own hospitals to begin with. The CDC website says that “Jurisdictions are encouraged to vaccinate staff and incarcerated/detained persons of correctional or detention facilities at the same time because of their shared increased risk of disease. Outbreaks in correctional and detention facilities are often difficult to control given the inability to physically distance, limited space for isolation or quarantine, and limited testing and personal protective equipment resources. Incarcerated or detained persons living in correctional and detention facilities may also be older or have high-risk medical conditions that place them at higher risk of experiencing severe COVID-19. COVID-19 outbreaks in correctional and detention facilities may also lead to community transmission.”

However, the prioritization of administering the COVID vaccine to incarcerated people has continued to not be a priority in many jurisdictions. We as a society have had a dark history of viewing incarcerated populations as less than what they are: human. Now more than ever, it is important for us to remember that they are people, regardless of their criminal history. Whether or not you agree with the prison system, being incarcerated should not determine the priority of your health or life. Being incarcerated should not mean that your health is less important than unincarcerated people. 

By Mika Abney