Those who are incarcerated “are always the most vulnerable in times of disaster like this,” Gem Nwanne,. And currently, they’re being made even more vulnerable by companies and governments profiting from their pain. Just six days after Cuomo's announcement, Department of Corrections staffers in New Yorkand have potentially infected people who are incarcerated, and it’s likely the same is happening in other prisons and jails across the country.
“[Incarcerated people] are, you know, property of the state according to the state, and they are not afforded any of the same rights, or even looked at as like full human beings and that becomes more evident during times of disaster and crises like this,” says Nwanne. They add that this is why it’s most important for people on the outside to advocate for incarcerated people, saying, “These incarcerated folks can't advocate for themselves. They are at the mercy of the state.
When asked to comment on the current situation at Rikers and in prisons in New York, Jason Kersten, the press secretary for the Department of Correction responded, “We are committed to ensuring that all people who live and work in our facilities remain safe and healthy, and we are following Health Department guidelines when it comes to taking appropriate measures to prevent coronavirus among our workforce and those in our care.
According to the DOC, they have an adequate supply of soap and cleaning products and hand sanitizer is available in common staff areas where sinks are not available. Staff at prisons are also allowed to bring their own sanitizer, and the department is following the recommendations of the NYC Department of Health which states that hand sanitizer is only recommended if there is no access to soap and water.
This is NOT true. The inmates may use the hand sanitizer from stations on the wall in common areas, but may NOT possess a bottle of it.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Source: runnersworld - 🏆 19. / 71 Read more »
Source: Newsweek - 🏆 468. / 52 Read more »
Source: bonappetit - 🏆 482. / 51 Read more »
Source: ELLE Magazine (US) - 🏆 472. / 51 Read more »
Source: Gossip Cop - 🏆 398. / 53 Read more »