rich 1.0 Action Network https://actionnetwork.org <link href='https://actionnetwork.org/css/style-embed-v3.css' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css' /><script src='https://actionnetwork.org/widgets/v6/letter/mass-incarceration-is-a-threat-to-public-health?format=js&source=widget'></script><div id='can-letter-area-mass-incarceration-is-a-threat-to-public-health' style='width: 100%'><!-- this div is the target for our HTML insertion --></div> Progressive Mass https://actionnetwork.org/groups/progressive-mass https://can2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/letters/photos/000/111/250/normal/Prison3.jpg 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. https://actionnetwork.org/letters/mass-incarceration-is-a-threat-to-public-health