Gov. Inslee Urged To Release Certain Prisoners Amid Coronavirus

WASHINGTON — Activist groups are urging Gov. Jay Inslee to release thousands of Washington prisoners amid the spread of the new coronavirus. The letter, from groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union and the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, says prison conditions are particularly grim in terms of a pandemic.

"People live in close contact with one another, social distancing is difficult, hygiene services and essential medical equipment is in short supply, and medical treatment is not easily accessible," the letter said.

"Once COVID-19 breaks out, it will likely spread quickly through our prisons and jails," it added.

The most effective thing officials can do to prevent the spread of coronavirus in Washington prisons, the letter says, is to release the elderly and those within six months of their release date.

In a statement to Patch, in its entirety below, Gov. Inslee's office said they are aware of the requests made in the letter, saying they "are trying to accommodate all of these very important considerations," adding they'll give these requests due consideration.

The list of organizations backing the letter is robust. They include:

• Disability Rights Washington
• Northwest Immigrant Rights Project
• Public Defender Association
• Columbia Legal Services
• Seattle University School of Law's Center for Law and Equality
• Peace and Justice Action League of Spokane
• Team Child
• American Civil Liberties Union Washington
• Washington Defender Association
• Civil Survival
• All of Us or None

Read the full letter to Gov. Inslee.

The letter says as of June 2018, about 10 percent of the state's prison population was over 56. They're particularly vulnerable

Referring to Gov. Inslee's executive powers, the letter said "You exercised this authority in ordering all schools across the state to close. You should exercise the same authority to protect people currently held in custody in Washington’s prisons and jails."

Local and county jails are less prepared than the Washington Department of Corrections to handle the coronavirus, the letter said, urging Inslee to "issue guidance to local and county officials directing them to significantly reduce their jail populations, both by limiting the number of people coming into these settings, as well as releasing as many people as possible back into the community."

Similarly, civil rights groups including the American Civil Liberties Union Washington and the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project filed a lawsuit at the U.S. District Court in Seattle against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), pushing for the release of detainees "with higher risks of developing complications from the COVID-19 virus, including those over 50 and with underlying health conditions."

See also: Civil Rights Groups Sue ICE Over Northwest Detention Center

Below is the statement received from Gov. Inslee's office:

A lot of things are on the table, as you can imagine we are trying to accommodate all of these very important considerations.

We are aware of this request and it will be given due consideration with everything else.