Short Wave A Year Into The Pandemic, The Incarcerated Among The Most Vulnerable
Mar 12, 2021
Josiah Bates, a staff writer at TIME focusing on criminal justice and race, delves into the devastating effects of COVID-19 on U.S. prisons and jails. He reveals staggering statistics, including over 380,000 inmates testing positive and thousands succumbing to the virus. The close quarters make social distancing a near impossibility. Ronnie Hoagland Jr. shares his personal battle with the virus while incarcerated. Bates discusses the emotional toll of isolation on inmates and the urgent need for societal awareness and public health measures in these vulnerable environments.
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Ronnie's COVID-19 Experience
- Ronnie Hoagland Jr. contracted COVID-19 in a Texas jail, experiencing fever and sweating.
- He felt vulnerable due to the lack of social distancing and feared death, highlighting the virus's impact in correctional facilities.
High Infection and Mortality Rates
- Correctional facilities have seen some of the largest COVID-19 outbreaks.
- Infection rates are three times higher and mortality rates double inside prisons compared to the general population.
Rikers Island Concerns
- Josiah Bates investigated Rikers Island, concerned about a respiratory virus's spread in the crowded jail.
- A correctional officer revealed a lack of information and guidance from jail administrators, leaving inmates scared and unprepared.