The Vera Institute of Justice is encouraged to see that President Biden and his Administration’s COVID-19 response strategy rightfully addresses the need to distribute vaccines to facility staff and incarcerated people in jails, prisons, and detention centers. The COVID-19 response strategy also includes an Executive Order to require the Bureau of Prisons and ICE detention facilities to release data on the spread of COVID-19 in facilities and use federal grant programs to create incentives for state and local facilities to adhere to public health guidance

This important action results from a broad coalition of voices who called on America’s leadership to ensure an equitable COVID-19 response that addresses the health needs of every member of our community. From the beginning of the pandemic, people who are incarcerated or detained and those who work in jails, prisons, and detention centers have been at higher risk of contracting COVID-19. Since March, when the first known COVID-19-related death in a correctional facility was reported, there have been at least 355,780 cases reported among incarcerated people. This number is also most likely an undercount, given poor data collection and transparency in correctional settings. In immigration detention centers, Vera’s analysis indicates that ICE’s current reports do not reflect the true scope of the COVID-19 spread in detention.

Now the Biden-Harris Administration must move quickly to fulfill its promise. Our public health needs and the rights and safety of our communities is at stake. We also urge the Administration to be bold and release people from custody and divert others from entering detention to directly address overcrowding and prioritize incarcerated individuals and facility staff’s safety.