With the spread of COVID-19 around the world, we know these may be difficult times for many people. That is especially true for people incarcerated in Florida’s prisons and jails. That’s why, in addition to taking steps to safeguard our employees and communities, we are also demanding adequate precautions for those who may be most vulnerable to this disease.
In a letter sent last Sunday, numerous civil rights groups, including FJI, urged the State Attorney’s Office, the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, the Miami-Dade Department of Corrections and police departments across Miami-Dade County to release from jail all people currently incarcerated on bondable offenses and those with fewer than 60 days remaining on their sentence, and also to stop adding new people to the jail population. Doing so will protect the lives of thousands of people who are imprisoned in Miami, while safeguarding the health of our communities. Read the full letter here.
Also, in a letter sent last Tuesday, dozens of civil rights groups around the South, including FJI, implored Governor DeSantis to immediately develop evidence-based and proactive plans for the prevention and management of COVID-19 in the Florida Department of Corrections, and implement other measure in local jails. Read the full letter here.
We will continue to advocate for the health and safety of those incarcerated in Florida’s prisons and jails. We hope you are staying healthy and safe during these times