In an effort to avoid the spread of Covid-19 behind prison walls, a group of criminal justice and public health professionals are calling for the Governor to release “certain older, immuno-compromised and parole-eligible prisoners.”

The Baltimore Sun reports:

The letter sent Monday calls on Hogan to release all prisoners who are 60 years old or older or who are medically vulnerable and have five years or less left on their prison sentence. The letter’s signers, which include the ACLU, Maryland Public Defender Paul DeWolfe and several Johns Hopkins professors, ask that a number of prisoners be released to probation services.

Others that the group said should be eligible include those who have been deemed low risk by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections and have two years or less remaining on their sentence.

The letter is the latest in escalating calls from local advocates to release specified groups of people and reduce the prison population during the crisis. The article also notes that New York City’s Mayor was reviewing 200 people that may be eligible for release in an effort to reduce the risk of spreading the virus among inmates and staff.

For more information:

Mosby, medical professionals ramp up calls for Maryland to release elderly and low-risk prisoners to stem coronavirus (The Baltimore Sun)