The court found "exceptional reasons," the COVID-19 pandemic, existed to release an individual pending sentencing, as his hypertension put him at an increased risk for contracting the virus. Critical to this conclusion was the court's finding that the individual was not a flight risk or a danger to the community if he was released, citing the fact that he was convicted of a non-violent offense, felon in possession of a weapon, and his criminal history. Despite three pending assault charges, the court found that these were mitigated by the restrictive conditions of release and the individual's health risk outweighed the possible risk to the community.
United States v. Meekins, No. 1:18-cr-00222-APM (D.D.C. Mar. 31, 2020)
DETAILS
Decision
Date
3/31/2020
Practice Area
Criminal (Federal Charges)
Relief Requested
Release
Type of Court
Federal District Court
Location
District of Columbia
Type of Case
Individual
Case Characteristics
Elderly, Parole or Probation Violations, Post-Conviction Detention [jail or prison], Pre-Existing Health Conditions, Pretrial Detention [jail]
(1) Defendant shall be placed on electronic monitoring in the High Intensity Supervision Program and abide by all conditions of that Program; (2) Defendant shall be placed on home detention, meaning he may not leave his residence except for medical, mental health, and legal appointments; (3) Defendant shall reside with his father at 2017 Savannah Terrace SE, Apt. H, Washington, D.C. 20020; (4) Defendant shall report immediately upon release to 633 Indiana Ave., N.W., 9th floor for installation of the GPS device and, if released after 4 p.m., the following business day; (5) Defendant shall participate in outpatient treatment and counseling through MBI Health or other appropriate care provider approved by the Pretrial Services Agency; (6) Defendant shall call the Pretrial Services Agency twice weekly.
Convictions
Felon in possession of a weapon, 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)
Case Status
Decision Made But Case Still Pending
Pre-Existing Health Conditions
Age, Hypertension (high blood pressure), Other, Unspecified health condition (redacted)
COVID-19 Positive or Symptomatic
Not discussed
Charges
Felon in possession of a weapon, 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)
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.