State officials are looking to release low-risk prisoners in certain Michigan counties in an effort to limit the potential spread and exposure of the coronavirus. Other efforts include screening inmates for temperature and symptoms of COVID-19.
"We started the process three weeks ago with our courts and prosecutor to reduce the inmate population by probably a third," said Sheriff Ed Williams, according to Pioneer. This is an effort to keep inmates in jail healthy and safe.
"The health and safety of all Michiganders remains our top priority during this public health crisis, and that includes those incarcerated in our jails and juvenile detention centers," Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a news release, according to Pioneer. "It is challenging for inmates and employees to practice social distancing to slow the spread of COVID-19, and this executive order will put commonsense protocols into place to protect our jail and juvenile detention center populations."
Low-risk inmates are prisoners who may be pregnant woman, those who have chronic conditions, those who are elderly, prisoners close to their release date or anyone incarcerated for a traffic violation, failure to pay or failure to appear.
Prisoners who are released from the Osceola County Jail received an electronic tether or have been placed on additional probation status.
In addition to releasing nonviolent and low-risk prisoners, the jail will not currently accept suspects who are arrested on low-level misdemeanor warrants.
Mecosta County Sheriff Todd Purcell said that they have released about 40 prisoners early on a case-by-case basis.
Sheriff Rich Martin in Lake County told Pioneer, "We are looking at releasing a couple inmates that are low-risk that will be out soon.... Whatever we can do to limit exposure to other inmates or staff, we're going to do."
As of April 10, there are three confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Osceola County and 11 confirmed cases in Mecosta County, with one death, according to Michigan.gov.
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