Matthew* is a pre-trial detainee, in a “green” housing unit. He reported that while the last three weeks, on Fridays, the Sheriff’s Department has passed out soap, they did not pass out soap this week. He was also told by a Sheriff’s deputy that he is safer in jail, because being on the outside results in two risks: contracting Coronavirus and re-offending (again, he is pretrial). The Sheriff’s Department is now splitting out-of-pod time to promote social distancing, but they have no social distancing rules, so people are still able to sit at a table and play cards, for instance. They are wiping down tables and phones between switching groups, but they are not doing extensive sanitation or cleaning. The split pod time is resulting in folks getting only half of their normal out-of-pod time, which means they are in their cells for 21 hours a day (21-24 hours a day in cell is solitary confinement).
*Name has been changed.
He reported that while the last three weeks, on Fridays, the Sheriff’s Department has passed out soap, they did not pass out soap this week. He was also told by a Sheriff’s deputy that he is safer in jail, because being on the outside results in two risks: contracting Coronavirus and re-offending (again, he is pretrial).