TIFA TDCJ COVID Survey 2021

Please support those in TDCJ during this COVID pandemic!

Race * White Black Hispanic Oriental Other
***TELL US ABOUT YOU*** Relationship to the person incarcerated, you are the....
We are looking for information about COVID in TDCJ. Who is this survey about? You have a family member/friend incarcerated You have a family member/friend who was previously incarcerated You were previously incarcerated
What has been lost because of COVID You lost an incarcerated family member/friend to COVID You lost a free-world family member to COVID You lost your job/substantial income because of COVID You have not had a major loss because of COVID
Have YOU been diagnosed with COVID? Yes No
Will you get a COVID vaccination when it is made available to you? Yes No
***MEDICAL*** Has your LO been tested for COVID? Yes No
If your LO has been tested for COVID, how many times?
If your LO has been diagnosed with COVID, please check all that apply. Asymptomatic Symptomatic Placed in MI in the prison Hospitalized Passed due to COVID
Does your LO have any of the listed underlying conditions? Check all that apply. Hypertension Obesity Chronic lung disease Diabetes Cardiovascular disease 65 years of age or older
If your LO has a chronic condition have they been denied medical when the unit was on a COVID LD? Submitted a request to go to medical for a non COVID illness and denied during a COVID outbreak Has not been able to get the necessary medications for their chronic conditions during a COVID outbreak NA
Will your LO get a COVID vaccination when it is offered? Yes No
***LOCKDOWNS*** Is your LO currently in restricted housing (Ad Seg)? Yes No
Has your LO’s unit been placed on LD because of COVID? Yes No
Reason for lockdown- It was because of the number of inmates diagnosed with COVID It was because of a lack of staff
How many weeks was your LO's unit on LD in the last year because of COVID?
How many different LDs have occurred at the unit because of COVID?
During the lockdown did your LO Feel like they were being punished because of the LDs Did not receive adequate food during the LD Did not have adequate access to showers Did not have adequate access to recreation Did not have adequate access to commissary
During LDs how many hot meals did your LO receive? If they did not receive one please enter '0'
***COMMUNICATION*** Did your LO feel there was clear communication from TDCJ about the signs and symptoms of COVID? Yes No
Was information regarding COVID posted on your LO’s bulletin boards? Yes No
Did your LO see safety reminder videos on the dayroom TVs? Yes No
Did you call the TDCJ Medical Hotline to check on your LO? Yes No
Did you receive a call from the unit with a message from your LO? Yes No
Has your LO received their mail on a consistent basis? Yes No
Is there adequate access to phones when inmates are allowed phone calls? Yes No
Is video visitation available at your LO’s unit? Yes No
If so, have you had a video visit? Yes No
***COVID SAFETY GUIDELINES*** Does your LO have adequate access to supplies needed to prevent the spread of COVID such as soap, disinfectant, and surface cleaners? Yes No
Does your LO’s facility practice a consistent level of social distancing? Yes No
Do the COs consistently wear masks and observe COVID guidelines? Yes No
Does your LO feel the COs fairly enforce the safety guidelines? Yes No
Is your LO given the opportunity to exchange dirty masks for clean ones on a regular basis? Yes No
How often do the COs spray the wings with Vital Oxide, if ever? Enter '0' if never.
***MENTAL HEALTH*** Was/Is your LO scared of losing their life due to COVID? Yes No
Does your LO know someone inside TDCJ who died of COVID? Yes No
Does your LO experience depression due to COVID? Yes No
Has your LO ask to speak to the Mental Health Department during a LD? Yes No
Does your LO suffer from any other mental disorders not caused by COVID? Yes No
***DELAYED PAROLE RELEASE*** Is/was your LOs parole release delayed because of a wait for parole required programming? Yes No
If your LO is/was eligible for release on parole was it delayed because of a COVID medical restriction or LD? Yes No
Does your LO have a home to parole to? Yes No
If you LO is going to be or was released to a halfway house, was there a delay because a lack of availability? Yes No NA
Has your LO completed half of their sentence and is older than 65 years of age? Yes No
Do you think your LO should be considered for compassionate release? Yes No
- You may receive email updates from TIFA - Texas Inmate Families Association, the sponsor of this form.
- Edit Subscription Preferences Close Preferences
- - Opt in to email updates from TIFA - Texas Inmate Families Association

TIFA TDCJ COVID Survey 2021

Most families know the conditions in jails and prisons subject their incarcerated loved ones to dangerous, unhealthy, and inhumane conditions. And when there is a contagious disease, whether it is measles, mumps, norovirus, or Covid-19 we know that our loved ones are in a precarious situation. We know that they are more susceptible because of the unsanitary conditions, the over-crowding, and most of all the lack of good medical care.

Lockdowns affect the mental health of both inmates and families. During the long, on-going COVID pandemic families’ visits have been cut off, phone calls are limited because of phone availability and lockdowns, and the mail is incredibly unreliable. Families worry if their loved ones will catch COVID, if they are being fed, and the ‘not knowing‘ and waiting is the hardest part of all.

These disease outbreaks and the pandemic are devastating to all. Staff and communities suffer because of the hotspots created by the prisons. Inmates suffer because there is no social distancing, inadequate health care, and others failing to follow recommended safety guidelines. Inmates of color and those with underlying conditions are more susceptible to devastating consequences. And families are suffering because of worry, lack of information, and also because they are battling with COVID and economic struggles on the outside.

Please help us to gather information to provide evidence that this inhumane system needs to change. Take a moment to fill out our survey and then please pass it to another family who is involved in the criminal justice system. This survey will provide information for our Texas legislators.

(ALL INFORMATION WILL BE CONFIDENTIAL, WE ONLY COLLECT CONTACT INFORMATION IN CASE WE HAVE QUESTIONS. RESULTS WILL BE REPORTED IN AGGREGATE FORM. TDCJ numbers are collected to eliminate duplicate surveys.)

**Note: Abbreviations- Loved one/friend= LO, Lockdown= LD, Medical restriction= MR, Medical isolation= MI, CO=Correctional Officer, NA=not applicable

Please support those in TDCJ during this COVID pandemic!

TIFA TDCJ COVID Survey 2021

Sponsored by