The Prison Policy Institute just put out an excellent report with these action steps that are critical during this pandemic:

1. Release medically fragile and older adults.
2. Stop charging medical co-pays in prison.
3. Lower jail admissions to reduce “jail churn.”
4. Reduce unnecessary parole and probation meetings.
5. Eliminate parole and probation revocations for technical violations.

I would add a few other measures:

-Make sure that everyone released from jail or prison has a safe and secure place to go, an adequate supply of medication, and health care coverage.

-Consider immediate release of all primary caregivers (of children, of elderly parents, etc.). It is unreasonable for a mother convicted of a minor charge to sit in jail while her kids circulate through foster homes, state institutions, and relatives’ couches.