How the Pandemic Further Isolated the Incarcerated

ABSTRACT

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) workplace complaints rose by more than 15% between February and October 2020, with the majority revolving around unacceptable COVID-19 workplace conditions that essential workers had to endure1 however, this metric did not extend to the voices of incarcerated populations, who have been vital to the functioning of our society but have not received proper protection. When the system is allowed to engage in "violent inaction," incarcerated individuals are left purposefully hidden.2 The lack of data transparency in COVID-19 case reports and the personal protective equipment supplied to jails and prisons, coupled with sluggish legislation (e.g., the half-year gap in the tabling of the COVID-19 in Corrections Data Transparency Act), permits carceral facilities to mask the barbaric conditions faced by this vulnerable population. [...]human rights violations incarcerated individuals faced during the pandemic (and continue to face) include increased solitary confinement owing to lockdowns,3 canceled in-person visitations, and loss of physical mail from family members as cards were converted to PDFs.4 Many of us have seen our communities step up by asking for individuals to be released, advocating for vaccine prioritization, and working to address vaccine hesitancy in incarcerated settings.5,6 Unfortunately, that is not enough.