The court granted Williams' motion for compassionate release due to William's obesity (BMI of 32.5), which is a CDC risk category for COVID-19 and the fact he contracted the virus in May while in jail. In addition, the court noted the documented failures of the District of Columbia Department of Corrections (“DOC”) to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in its facilities. See Banks v. Booth, CCK-20-849, 2020 WL 1914896 (D.D.C. Apr. 19, 2020). In particular to Mr. Williams' condition, judges in other circuits have found obesity as a contributing factor in analyzing an extraordinary and compelling reason for compassionate release during COVID-19. The court also held Mr. Williams is not a danger to the community because he has no history of violent convictions and will be sufficiently supervised in the community.
United States v. Christopher Williams, No. 8:19-cr-00134 (D. Md. June 10, 2020)
DETAILS
Decision
Date
6/10/2020
Practice Area
Criminal (Federal Charges)
Relief Requested
Release
Type of Court
Federal District Court
Location
Maryland
Type of Case
Individual
Case Characteristics
Post-Conviction Detention [jail or prison]
Release Granted
Yes
Compassionate Release Case
Yes
Case Tracking Number
8:19-cr-00134-PWG
MORE CASE INFORMATION
Court Name
D. Md.
Decision
Motion Granted
Place of Incarceration
Local / County Jail
Name of Facility
Correctional Treatment Facility (“CTF”) in Washington, DC
Legal Authority
First Step Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A)
Release Conditions
Seven months home confinement with location monitoring; followed by three years of supervised release. Mr. Williams is also required to participate in vocational training and will be required to comply with all directives of federal and state governments related to COVID-19.
Convictions
Violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(C) for possession with the intent to distribute cocaine
Case Status
Decision Made
Compassionate Release Exhaustion Holdingsin Federal Case
An individual can move for compassionate release after 30 days have passed from the date the application was submitted to the warden, irrespective of whether the warden has granted or denied the request.
Pre-Existing Health Conditions
Obesity
Pre-Existing Health Conditions Notes
Obesity (BMI 32.5)
COVID-19 Positive or Symptomatic
Yes
COVID-19 in Jail Prison or Detention Center
Yes
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.