Sheriff Gonzalez is seeking compassionate release of some inmates at the Harris County Jail
By Gabrielle Banks
Houston Chronicle
March 19, 2020
More than 8,500 people are housed in the Harris County jail, and thousands more move through the building and return to their communities each day to keep the criminal justice juggernaut running.
Sheriff Ed Gonzalez likens the situation to three massive ships docked in downtown Houston. An outbreak of COVID-19 in this setting could be catastrophic to the region and overwhelm hospitals’ limited capacity to treat patients.
That’s why the sheriff overseeing the third largest jail system in the country is pushing for “bold action” to avert the potential fallout — he is seeking compassionate releases of hundreds of vulnerable people who pose a low risk to public safety. For that to happen, judges would need to sign off.
EDITOR’S NOTE: In Europe and in Iran, jail and prison inmates are being released to avoid a coronavirus outbreak inside those institutions. Under the corona circumstances, release of Harris County jail inmates who are the least likely to be a threat to the public seems to be appropriate.
1 comment:
I say turn them out. Lot of Texans are sitting around wearing or holding a gun anyway. I wouldn't pull on someone else's door knob.
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