Doralisa Cortez lives in fear that her nephew José Armendáriz may catch the coronavirus at Theo Lacy Jail in Orange County.
"He has diabetes, he already had Valley Fever – valley fever – and suffers from lung problems. Any virus easily sticks to it, ”says the anguished aunt.
Her anguish grew even more when her 29-year-old nephew found out via telephone, that they do not give them masks to protect themselves. "The detainees have done it by tearing sheets and T-shirts. In addition, they put him with another inmate who tested positive for the virus. In Theo Lady they do not take care as it should be, nor are they taking precautions to prevent the spread of the disease, ”he laments.
He cites as an example that the prison worker intended to give her nephew her medicine, using the same gloves she used to supply pills to the COVID-19 patient. "When José told him that he couldn't do that, he reluctantly took off his gloves," says Doralissa.
At the state jail level, As of April 14, the California Department of Prisons (CDCR) has reported that they had 58 prisoners and 78 workers infected with the coronavirus.
As of April 14, 11 inmates and 34 employees were reported to be infected with the pandemic in Los Angeles County jails operated by the Sheriff's Department (LASD), mwhile they keep quarantined 559 prisoners and 435 employees. Quarantine applies to individuals who have been in contact for more than ten minutes with a person under observation for the virus.
The total population in Los Angeles County jails is 12,735.
Ralph Diaz, secretary of the Department of Prisons, said that for them it is a priority, gensure the safety of staff, the incarcerated population and the community in general.
Among the preventive actions taken in state prisons are:
- Obligatory taking of the temperature to the personnel when they enter the prisons.
- Suspension of admission of inmates from county jails.
- Suspension of visits; inmates will have free additional phone calls with loved ones.
- Cancellation of access to prisons by volunteers and providers of rehabilitation programs.
- Reduction of the number of prisoners in common places to support the measure of social distance.
- Strengthen hygiene for both staff and detainees, including giving them greater access to soap and hand sanitizer.
ANDThe Department of Prisons estimates that up to 3,500 inmates, who have less than 30 or 60 days to serve their sentence, will be eligible for an expedited transition to parole.
However, Brian Kaneda of Californians United for a Responsible Budget (CURB), an organization that advocates for detainees' rights, says that while they celebrate the measures to release those close to being paroled, they are not enough to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in state prisons.
"We are suing Governor Newsom to release elderly, sick, and medically vulnerable adults, including those who serve life sentences without parole, to leave with their families.", it states.
"We ask that their sentences be commuted to protect the health of all Californians."
He adds that daily, they receive reports that conditions in state prisons do not allow social distance.
Together with other organizations, CURB has launched the campaign # ClemencyCoast2Coast addressed to Governor Newsom of California and Governor Cuomo of New York pPray for clemency and the immediate release of the elderly and other prisoners vulnerable to COVID-19.
In the case of Theo Lacy Jail in Orange County, José's aunt, Doralisa Cortez, says that in situations where, like her nephew, detainees suffer from pre-existing health conditions, they have requested that they be given house arrest for not to expose them to the danger of dying from being infected with the coronavirus.
"We are putting pressure on your lawyer, and asking the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California (ACLUSocal) for their support to provide other alternatives to incarceration."
Housemates in solidarity with those inside ✊
Gov @GavinNewsom, NOW is the time to use your clemency powers to release people in state prison. We cannot #FlattenTheCurve without decarceration. # COVID19 #ClemencyNow #LetThemGo pic.twitter.com/9xYDVN7gfA
– Sarah Lee (@sleesays) March 25, 2020
The opinion He is awaiting information on the number of people infected with the coronavirus at Theo Lady Jail in Orange County.
Family members who want to report pandemic-related irregularities at that correctional facility can call the ACLU complaint line: 714-503-6006.
The Department of Prisons reports that to date they have already reduced their population in state prisons up to 6,758 prisoners, through of the accelerated release plan and suspension of admission to custody of county jails through a Executive Order from March 24. They also say they have transferred approximately 500 inmates from dormitories to empty spaces to allow for greater physical distance.
In response to the pandemic, Governor Newsom signed a new executive order on April 14, so that youth who serve sentences in the Juvenile Justice Division, and are eligible to be released, be released quickly.
It also requests that all hearings for their release be through videoconferences to avoid being exposed to COVID-19.
