After Monroe 'riot,' governor plans release for some prisoners
MONROE — Prisoners and their advocates demanded the swift release of medically vulnerable inmates in Washington state prisons Thursday, hours after tensions boiled over in an angry protest by more than 100 inmates in a low-security wing of the Monroe Correctional Complex.
Amid a COVID-19 outbreak in the penitentiary, Gov. Jay Inslee announced Thursday afternoon that in the coming days some state prisoners could be released to prevent unnecessary illnesses and deaths, as well as to free up space within the complex, so that prisoners are less packed in.
“Generally,” Inslee said, “we’re looking at nonviolent offenders, who are nearing their appropriate release date, who because of age or health conditions have a higher risk of potentially contracting the disease and having a fatal result.”
Secretary of Corrections Steve Sinclair said face masks will soon be mandatory for all prison staff, and once the resources become available, prisoners will be given masks, too.
https://www.heraldnet.com/news/not-a-safe-place-monroe-prisoners-demand-safety-from-virus/?utm_source=DAILY+HERALD&utm_campaign=06192f8c53-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_d81d073bb4-06192f8c53-228635337