The coronavirus pandemic exposes the vulnerability of people who are already at risk in our society. Already we have seen the ways in which responses to COVID result in an increase in state power, enforced through threats of violence, militarism, or incarceration. The Board of Health in Columbus declared a State of Emergency on Friday, March 13. Under a State of Emergency, the city has the power to “use police and deputize “quarantine guards” with police power to enforce their efforts if peolpe don’t cooperate.” However, prisons and detention centers pose a huge threat for the safety of people within them. With highly unsanitary conditions and overcrowding, the risk of infectious disease spreading is high. By the very nature of their captivity, incarcerated people are not allowed to practice social distancing from each other. Correctional staff still comes in and out of the jail daily, exposing inmates to risk of infection with no place to turn. People who are incarcerated are already those at higher risk of a compromised immune system, due to various experiences of PTSD, trauma, or a lifetime of inadequate medical treatment. Locally, incarcerated people are given a single mat and cup of water at Franklin County Corrections Center II. Conditions are cramped there, and many individuals must resort to sleeping on the floor. Soap is limited if it is provided at all.

With Governor Mike DeWine's recent decision to close all bars and restaurants statewide, he made it clear that he understands the public health risk of people maintaining close proximity. After making this decision, he tweeted, “Every day we delay, more people will die. If we do not act and get some distance between people, our healthcare system in Ohio will not hold up.”

It is time for DeWine to prioritize the lives and safety of the people who are trapped behind walls, because if he does not act NOW to release people in jails, prisons, and detention centers, they will die too. Their time is running out.

During this time of a pandemic emergency, the release of all incarcerated people and abolition of the carceral system is of absolute urgency. Cuyahoga County recently made the decision to release hundreds of incarcerated folks from the Cuyahoga County Jail -- we need the rest of Ohio to follow suit. We issue Governor Mike DeWine these demands in line with the work of the National Bail Fund and the fight to #FreeThemAll:

1. We demand an immediate release of all incarcerated people in Ohio and the country. This is not asking for a temporary release, but to use this moment to turn to methods of transformative justice and restorative action rather than return to a punitive system of imprisonment.

2. We demand there are no new incarcerated individuals during this time. Whether pretrial, as part of prosecution/sentencing, as a consequence of probation/parole violations, or in immigration cases, sending people to jail/prison/ICE jail right now is sentencing them to COVID19.

3. Loosen restrictions on GPS, Electronic Monitoring (“EM”) or “House Arrest. " This means judges, DAs, probation & parole officers, to NOT impose EM or supervision in the 1st place.

4. Eliminate pretrial, parole, probation check-ins, ICE-check-ins and mandatory appearance at court continuances. Despite public health advice, people will not be willing to stay home if there is threat of incarceration.

5. Cease all ICE and CBP operations. Noncitizens, their families, and migrant communities cannot seek needed medical care if they are afraid of being arrested by ICE at hospitals or health centers.’

Keeping people caged will only make the growing public health crisis worse. It is DeWine's responsibility to look out for the people of Ohio and lessen the risk of COVID-19 spreading. Hear the call? Free them all!