Marshal's Prisoner Transfers Fuels Virus Spikes; Prisoners CAN Receive Stimulus Checks: Federal Judge Orders Feds to Pay Up; Deadline to Apply is October 15
by Derek Gilna
October saw
continued bad COVID-19 news, but there was a positive development. A US district court judge has certified a
class action on behalf of all prisoners and ordered that the federal government
must permit incarcerated prisoners and their families to receive the same $1200
stimulus checks that all should have received in the Spring. The late September
ruling means that prisoners and their families can reapply through the
There is clear evidence that the DOJ resumption of federal prisoner transfers by the US Marshal's service is fueling a new spike in prisoner COVID-19 infections. Although DOJ on its website in court filing brags about its "plan" to combat the virus, top officials are either ignorant of the precipitous increase in cases, or just don't care. Virtually all federal prisons are short staffed, as fearful employees stay home, or self-quarantine after virus exposure.
COVID-19 has further compromised deficient prison medical care, which according to the DOJ Inspector General has not been able to fill open medical professional positions, and also effectively curtailed all outside medical trips for seriously-ill prisoners, most of whom are elderly and have life-threatening chronic conditions. It is nothing less than a national scandal, especially in a week where the heavily-protected President fell ill. Unlike the President, however, federal prisoners are completely on their own, often denied the most basic medical care and even medicine like cough drops. It is hard to believe that national office and AG Barr don't know.
Waseca is
approaching a 100% infection rate, after unscreened prisoners from the Okalahoma
transfer center arrived and went into general population. Not far down the road,
Despite the distraction of the approaching election. The President's illness has refocused attention on COVID-19. Although many cities had begun to see a drop in new cases, it's not the case in federal prison, where prisoners no longer displaying symptoms counted, who are counted as "recovered", continue to feel weakened and ill, and need long term care, NEVER provided in prison.
The Supreme
Court opened its new term today with remote operations, as Congress prepares
for a bruising confirmation fight for Amy Coney Barrett. One of the cases on
the docket is Borden v
Let not your heart be troubled, and do not let fear dominate your life.
Federal Legal Center, Inc., Derek A. Gilna, JD, Director,
