Federal prison union officials and inmate advocates warn that the combination of chronic understaffing, a new leave policy and the realities of coronavirus quarantines could lead to the first nationwide federal prison lockdown since 1995, reports Kaiser Health News. As coronavirus races across the U.S., staffing challenges are particularly complicated in jails and prisons where conditions create a tinderbox for contagion. There is no such thing as teleworking for a correctional officer tasked with guarding inmates. Union leaders for the Council of Prison Locals worry that low staffing levels in federal detention centers and prisons — which have required teachers and other social workers to fill in for correctional officers in the past — will exacerbate the impact of losing staff members to quarantines. The federal prison system houses nearly 175,000 inmates.
If the coronavirus begins to spread rapidly among staff and inmates, it could prompt a prison lockdown at federal sites, said Aaron McGlothin, head of the prison staff’ local union at Federal Correctional Institution-Mendota near Fresno, Ca. “You’ve got to understand we’re in a prison — there’s nowhere to go,” he said. “If somebody comes down sick, what are you going to do? Everybody’s going to get sick.” The Bureau of Prisons said there have been no confirmed coronavirus cases in its 122 facilities as of March 10. State corrections departments in Florida, California and Colorado said this week they are cutting off visitation to inmates at their sites. Worldwide, prisons have become a flashpoint. Iran temporarily released 70,000 prisoners to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus behind bars, while Italy is facing prison riots over lockdown conditions that have led to at least 50 inmate escapes and six deaths.
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Please allow persons at very low risk to community to go home with GPS during crisis