Several people presumably detained in Pennsylvania county jails filed for release for themselves and others similarly situated due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The court denied release, but instructed lower courts to ensure the threat posed by COVID-19 was addressed, then consider a reduction in the population of institutions, if best practices were not sufficient.
In re: the Petition of the Pennsylvania Prison Society et al., --- A.3d ----, 2020 WL 3116883 (Pa. Apr. 3, 2020)
DETAILS
Decision
Date
4/3/2020
Practice Area
Criminal (State Charges)
Relief Requested
Release
Type of Court
State Highest Court
Location
Pennsylvania
Type of Case
Group
Release Granted
No
Compassionate Release Case
No
Case Tracking Number
70 MM 2020
MORE CASE INFORMATION
Court Name
The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Middle Dsitrict
Decision
Motion Denied
Place of Incarceration
Local / County Jail
Legal Authority
Pennsylvania Constitution art V, § 10(a)
Legal Authority
Pennsylvania Rule of Judicial Administration 1952(A)
Case Status
Decision Made
Improved Conditions Ordered
"We DIRECT the President Judges of each judicial district to coordinate with relevant county stakeholders to ensure [they] address the threat of COVID-19, applying the recommendations of public health [ ] in Correctional and Detention Facilities [ ]. If utilization of public health best practices is not feasible due to the population [ ], President Judges should consult with relevant county stakeholders to identify individuals and/or classes of incarcerated persons for potential release or transfer to reduce the current and future populations [ ]. Moreover, [ ] President Judges are to undertake efforts to limit the introduction of new inmates into the county prison system."
COVID-19 in Jail Prison or Detention Center
Not Discussed
Litigation Database
Crowdsourced legal documents from around the country related to COVID-19 and incarceration, organized, collected, and summarized for public defenders, litigators, and other advocates. Created and managed by Bronx Defenders, Columbia Law School’s Center for Institutional and Social Change, UCLA Law COVID-19 Behind Bars Data Project, and Zealous. Mostly federal court opinions, but now expanding to states and legal filings, declarations, and exhibits.
This resource is designed to help lawyers, advocates, researchers, journalists, and others interested in challenging, remedying, or drawing attention to the grave risk that Covid-19 poses to individuals who are detained.