The spread of the Coronavirus has caused many unprecedented decisions to be made across the globe. Recently, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced his decision to release 300 inmates from Rikers Island prison. It is important to know that these are non-violent, elderly inmates that have less than one year left in their sentence and at least five preexisting conditions, making them vulnerable to the virus. The prison has seen a massive outbreak in the novel Coronavirus, ultimately taking the life of one Corrections Officer.
The inmates who will be released from the prison are not ones who have been convicted of any violent or sexual offenses. Speaking on the matter in a press conference, Mayor Bill de Blasio said, “We want to identify anyone in those categories and get them released immediately. It is a very complicated dynamic, it’s one that we’ve literally never dealt with before. I’m listening to all the input … But I want to make very clear that I’m making the ultimate decisions, taking in the advice from all these different sources and doing what I think is the right thing for this city.”
While our firm is unable to predict the future, it is possible that other prisons in the state of New York and elsewhere may follow suit amid the Coronavirus pandemic. As we learn more, we will continue to keep you updated.
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If you or someone you know what charged with a crime, contact KCS Law to schedule a consultation and we would be happy to assist you.
