Unpacking the Pandemic’s Impact on the Incarcerated

COVID illness and death are the most obvious way the incarcerated are suffering. Overall, Illinois state adult prisons have recorded 89 COVID deaths. Amazingly, there have been none in the Stateville men’s prison, but 10 at the Cook County Jail. At issue currently is the alarming gap between vaccination rate for prisoners vs. prison staff. The Illinois Prison Project says 45% of the incarcerated have received boosters, but only 7% of staff. From The Chicago Reader on January 7, 2022: “Dr. Seth Prins, an assistant professor of epidemiology and sociomedical sciences at Columbia University in New York City, says that prison staffers refusing or delaying getting the vaccine and booster has myriad consequences, both for people they guard and control as well as surrounding communities.” https://chicagoreader.com/news-politics/most-illinois-prison-staff-havent-gotten-covid-boosters/

What’s been happening recently? In December the Fox Valley women’s facility had a positivity rate of over 55%, despite carefully following all the mitigation guidelines. As of February 1, however, they are COVID-free. Says the warden, “Though initially overwhelmed, staff and residents persevered yet again. Its during challenging times that we see the best in people. The beauty of teamwork and support for one another shines brightly.”

Via email, a social worker at a men’s facility described ways the pandemic “has created a challenging barrier between the residents incarcerated and their families/support systems.” Examples include less access to phones, almost no visitors allowed, and suspension of furloughs to attend family funerals. On the positive side, video equipment now permits some participation in funerals on the outside.

Further Resources:

Illinois COVID cases by prison https://www2.illinois.gov/idoc/facilities/Pages/Covid19Response.aspx

cumulative cases and deaths in IL https://uclacovidbehindbars.org/states/illinois

policy changes in response to the pandemic https://www.prisonpolicy.org/virus/virusresponse.html

continual tracking of cases https://covidprisonproject.com