Prisons and jails were unsafe places before COVID-19. Now, amidst a pandemic, such conditions risk effectively bringing back the death penalty.

More than 600 people incarcerated or working in Massachusetts jails or prisons have tested positive for
COVID-19. The Supreme Judicial Court has only released a very small number of people held pre-trial. 95% of incarcerated people remain in jail or prison, putting them at risk of infection and death.

This is a political choice. And our elected officials can choose differently.

Today (May 5), the Judiciary Committee in the MA Legislature will be hearing testimony in support of H.4652: An Act Regarding Decarceration and COVID1-19, filed by State Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa.

The bill demands the immediate decarceration of individuals who pose no physical threat to the community, including

• All persons charged with or serving time for simple possession of controlled substances
• All persons detained because they cannot afford bail under $10,000
• All persons over the age of 50
• All persons who are medically vulnerable, as classified by the Center for Disease Control
• All persons incarcerated as the result of technical parole or probation violations
• All persons who qualify for medical parole
• All persons incarcerated due to warrants for failure to pay fines and fees
• All persons who are within six months of their release date
• All persons who are within six months of their parole eligibility date

Mass incarceration is a threat to community stability and public health. We can -- and must -- take action.