We coordinate with public health officers and healthcare professionals in the county to monitor developments related to this rapidly evolving situation.
Allowing for single-occupant cells at the jail, which is indicated as a national best practice and provides for safe physical distancing.
Limiting new jail admissions – no standalone misdemeanor arrests will result in the immediate transfer of individuals to the local county jail, instead, law enforcement agencies refer the appropriate charges to the District Attorney’s Office for review.
When deemed by medical professionals that an inmate is has greater medical needs than what can be treated at our secure facilities, that individual is transferred to a local hospital.
Dorms at the House of Correction are being cleaned and sanitized three times per day, instead of the once per day cycle before the outbreak.
Whenever an inmate is found to be symptomatic for the flu, potential COVID-19 and/or any other symptom which may or may not be contagious, that inmate is immediately removed from the dormitory and assigned to a quarantine space where they are assessed and tested for COVID-19.
Inmates have access to the necessary supplies to frequently wash their hands and sanitize the dormitory.
Each inmate has been issued a surgical mask to wear and these masks are replaced every 6 days.
Staff have been issued or have access to PPE applicable to their work assignment. Staff members are instructed to wipe down their work area at the start of each shift and sanitary wipes are provided and maintained at each work station to accomplish this task.
At the House of Correction, before the COVID-19 outbreak our dorms held between 60 and 70 people. We’re now capping dormitories at 40 people.
The local health departments work closely with corrections officials to conduct contact tracing to ensure inmate and staff are protected.
The steps to create reduction were and will continue to be done with great thought and care with the best interests of victims and public safety in mind.
The District Attorney’s Office will continue to immediately review all felony cases, as well as Domestic Violence misdemeanor matters, for charging.
Between 175 and 190 individuals are being supervised on electronic monitoring.
There are federal HIPPA (privacy concerns) that we are held to. We cannot share medically sensitive information with family/friends unless the individual in our care signs a release of information form.