SYMPOSIUM SUMMARY: CORONAViruS & MASS INCARCERATION, A DISCUSSION ON PUBLIC HEALTH

Written By: Hannah Lin (CC'23)
Event Moderated By: Hannah Lin (CC '23)
Student Organizers: Arooba Ahmed (CC '23), Arushi Sahai (CC '23), Hannah Lin (CC '23)
Speakers: Dr. Bob Fullilove (Columbia University), Dr. Marc Stern (University of Washington)

0:00 Introduction
2:07 Dr. Fullilove introduction

• Involved in HIV research, first started exploring intersection between correctional system and HIV/AIDS
• Continues to engage in efforts to make the wealth of knowledge and talent that lives in our correctional system known to the public

4:30 Dr. Stern introduction

• Was in VA for a few years and started in correctional healthcare by accident
• Goal is to improve patient safety in correctional environments
• Works with government agencies regarding quality of care in immigration detention centers

7:28 How is COVID-19 affecting our correctional system right now?
8:06 Dr. Stern

• Think of jails/prisons/detention centers as landlocked cruise ships
• Public health implications go beyond those that are currently incarcerated
  • Staff are at risk and can endanger communities they go home to everyday
  • People in prisons who are already at risk also go to community hospitals, where supplies are scarce
• What needs to be done in correctional system
  • Follow CDC guidelines for reducing spread, but this is difficult in prisons
  • Decrease density in correctional institutions
• Whole risk to public is combination of criminal justice and public health factors

15:28 Dr. Fullilove

• In vast majority, people inside are not those on death row, but allowing them to be put in harm’s way is in effect sentencing them, without court, to death row
• System is unable to handle this pandemic
• People inside getting sick could have been prevented, but question is what changes are going to be put in place in face of pandemic that cannot be reversed after we go back to normal
• See that this as a public policy issue and a public health crisis, and think of the damage that will be done to minority populations like African Americans, who are already disproportionately affected by the criminal justice system

20:08 Dr. Stern

• Already started with a system that was largely broken in terms of providing basic medical care to people, and COVID-19 is only adding on

21:00 What has to be done?
21:21 Dr. Fullilove

• Our country does not forgive people for having committed a crime
• Not a popular position for politicians or people who work in correctional system to act on behalf of incarcerated people
• Our culture places us in a poor position to act decisively for the incarcerated population
• Worried that action will only be taken after a tragedy occurs

24:43 Dr. Stern

• Risks not only to people inside but to general public need to be accentuated

26:17 Are people in the correctional system getting information on COVID-19?
26:49 Dr. Fullilove

• Every state, prison, and jail is different
• In NY, most people are being told that they are in a crisis and know what is going on, but this is leading them to panic since they know what should be done

30:09 Dr. Stern

• There has already been an uprising in Washington’s largest penitentiary
• People are scared, and they also have so little control over their lives
• Testing in a lot of places is also severely limited
• Colleague mentioned that there were people inside making phone calls telling relatives that they had symptoms of COVID-19 but weren’t telling anyone else, posing a health crisis to their immediate environment
  • Working with software company to analyze keywords from conversations to find out why people are not telling others
  • Looking to get students around the country to join in on helping isolate the problem

36:19 What are opportunities for students to get involved right now?
36:42 Dr. Fullilove

• Lobbying and protesting online
• Stay informed; every state and municipality is different

39:42 Dr. Stern

• Check with local jails in community to find out what percent of people have been let out
• At statewide level, have apply public pressure on governor and legislature

42:03 Dr. Fullilove

• Decision making has to happen at all levels
• For prisons, also have to consider where people will go if they are not released directly back to their community

44:19 What happens to those that are released to the community and don’t have access to medical care anymore?
44:48 Dr. Fullilove

• Problems existed way before COVID-19
• Large problem with homelessness; barriers to finding housing for those that have been convicted of a crime

47:30 How do you see advocating to change minds in public and the government?
47:52 Dr. Fullilove

• Those that are in the position of being exposed or exposing others to the virus have to be a real priority
• Framing needs to shift from more of a criminal justice issue to more of a public health issue
• It is in everyone’s best interest to act vigorously

49:18 Where should we get information about our local jails?
49:40 Dr. Stern

• Rosters and capacities should be posted on jails’ public websites
• Can call jail
• Local media may also have hold of information

50:46 Dr. Fullilove

• Google works wonders
• Issues lie in accuracy of information sometimes; multiple sources are necessary

51:58 Is deciding between a criminal justice or a public health threat a national or local issue?
52:23 Dr. Fullilove

• Assessments of each local area are necessary

53:31 Dr. Stern

• Look at totality of risk: criminal and health
• All public health is ultimately local

54:53 Why are prisons and jails more likely to have higher rates of transmission?
55:11 Dr. Fullilove

• Density and lots of movement in and out

55:39 Dr. Stern

• Jails and prisons have higher concentrations of people with serious medical problems
• Food service also plays a role

57:32 Conclusion