Following the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States, state and federal jails became hotbeds for the virus, and inmates were at a higher risk. Researchers from the University of California, Irvine, and Brigham and Women’s Hospital highlighted the staggering toll, revealing that at the pandemic’s peak in 2020, those inside prisons were nearly three-and-a-half times more likely to have died from the virus than the general population outside.
The investigation revealed a significant increase of at least 50% in total jail death rates
The study, which included data from state jail systems and the Federal Bureau of Prisons, found that nearly 6,000 people died while jailed in the first year of the pandemic. The investigation revealed a significant increase of at least 50% in total jail death rates, with a potential jump of more than 75%.
The effects were most severe on elderly inmates, with death rates among those aged 50 and up skyrocketing. Naomi Sugie, the study’s lead author, highlighted the gap and stated that elderly convicts faced a greater risk.
The data showed that there was a decrease in prison admissions despite no increase in releases. This reduction inadvertently shielded younger individuals from COVID-19 exposure, as incarcerated populations tend to be older.
Governors, who had the authority to release prisoners, were hesitant to take decisive action due to fears about potential backlash over decision-making. Only a few parole boards witnessed significant improvements in release rates, with Iowa leading the way.
Mitigation efforts differed greatly among states, with some instituting rigorous testing and lockdown measures, while others trailed behind and had to rely on external help as mortality increased. Illinois, for example, struggled to quickly enact preventative measures as fatalities rose.
Speaking over the Bureau of Justice Statistics which has yet to publish the mortality data, Sugie, the study’s author said, “this is really both to have an accounting of what happened… but also, really importantly, to learn from what happened, so we don’t do this again in the future when we have another pandemic, another crisis.”