The court granted Studivant’s motion for compassionate release because (1) Studivant’s asthma and high blood pressure put him at an increased risk of severe medical complications from COVID-19, and (2) Studivant made significant rehabilitative efforts in prison.
United States v. Studivant, No. RDB-15-0164, 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 184301 (D. Md. Oct. 5, 2020)
DETAILS
Decision
Date
10/05/2020
Practice Area
Criminal (Federal Charges)
Relief Requested
Release
Type of Court
Federal District Court
Location
Maryland
Type of Case
Individual
Case Characteristics
Pre-Existing Health Conditions
Release Granted
Yes
Compassionate Release Case
Yes
Case Tracking Number
1:15-cr-00164-RDB
MORE CASE INFORMATION
Court Name
D. Md.
Decision
Motion Granted
Place of Incarceration
Federal Prison
Name of Facility
United States Penitentiary, Atlanta
Legal Authority
First Step Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A)
Release Conditions
1. Defendant Arnold Studivant's term of incarceration is reduced to time served, such that he is to be released from the custody of the Bureau of Prisons as soon as the terms of this Order can be implemented;
2. Prior to his release from custody, the Bureau of Prisons is directed to place the Defendant Arnold Studivant in quarantine for a period of 14 days and to evaluate him for the purposes of receiving a medical clearance;
3. Upon the expiration of the 14-day quarantine period and receipt of a medical clearance, the warden of United States Penitentiary-Atlanta shall forthwith release from custody the person of the Defendant, Arnold Studivant;
4. Defendant Arnold Studivant shall be on supervised release status for a period of 4 years;
5. Defendant Arnold Studivant shall be released to the custody of his mother, Joyce Harris, at her residence in Baltimore, Maryland;
6. While traveling from United States Penitentiary-Atlanta to his residence, Defendant Arnold Studivant will isolate himself to the best of his ability. Upon reaching his residence, Defendant Arnold Studivant shall observe all applicable stay-at-home orders; and
7. The United States Probation Office will review the conditions of release with Defendant Arnold Studivant.
Convictions
Conspiracy to distribute and possess within intent to distribute heroin.
Case Status
Decision Made
Pre-Existing Health Conditions
Asthma, Hypertension (high blood pressure)
COVID-19 Positive or Symptomatic
Not Discussed
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.