People in jail and prison are especially vulnerable to COVID-19 -- and yet, the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has done extremely little to protect them.

As of February 24, 2021, in total -- there have been a staggering 47,694 coronavirus cases among the approximately 125,000 individuals in BOP custody. And the mortality rate among incarcerated people is more than twice that of the general population when adjusted for age, sex, and race/ethnicity. [1]

It’s no secret why: prisons and jails are often horrifically overcrowded -- and incarcerated people often have little access to hygiene products or quality healthcare.

Our country’s racist mass incarceration system, in which Black and Brown individuals are over-policed and overcriminalized, has created a prison population that overrepresents communities of color -- exacerbating the disproportionate impact that the coronavirus is already having on these communities.

Public health experts have made it clear: the best way to stop the spread of the coronavirus in prison settings is to rapidly and sufficiently reduce the number of people in these facilities.

Because -- though the COVID-19 vaccine can have a major impact -- medical experts expect that participation rates will be low, due to the BOP’s failure to invest in outreach and education.

We’re calling on President Biden to uphold his campaign promises to advance racial justice reform and effectively confront COVID-19 during his first 100 days -- by ensuring elderly and other vulnerable people are released or transferred from federal custody.

Because a government that incarcerates millions of people -- then abandons them to be infected by a deadly virus -- can't truly be said to represent or work for everyone. If you agree, add your name today.

1) https://civilrights.org/resource/leadership-conference-letter-urging-jail-and-prison-population-reduction-during-covid-19-pandemic/