COVID concerns are escalating as issues from the pandemic continue to rise. One such concern is the impact the virus is having on individuals in closed facilities such as retirement and nursing homes, mental health hospitals, substance abuse facilities, and prisons. It has become increasingly challenging to protect residents and incarcerated persons from staff members that inadvertently bring the virus into such facilities.
While the plight of COVID on inmates may not be a headline on the nightly news, management of the contagion in Nevada prisons is starting to cause alarm. Prison officials have recently seen COVID rage through their institutions like wildfire, leaving everyone on both sides of the bars scrambling to recover.
Warm Springs Correctional Center (WSCC) in Carson City is one example of how quickly the virus can spread in a closed facility. The minimum/medium security unit remains in partial lockdown after the Nevada Department of Corrections (NDOC) issued a press release in mid-November that 424 out of 525 men and 25 staff members tested positive for COVID-19. Days later, the count climbed to 470. With several inmates assigned to the prison originating from Fallon, local friends and family members have expressed concern for the health and well-being of their loved ones during this time of crisis.
On November 23rd, Humboldt Conservation Camp in Winnemucca reported more than 80% of inmates had also contracted the virus. NDOC has confirmed that the number of cases is still on the rise.
Troubling reports from WSCC surfaced about 7-10 days before the mass outbreak. Some WSCC inmates began expressing concerns about cleanliness. In particular, they reported that their unit was not being cleaned as normal - roughly twice in approximately ten days at the time the report was made. The common areas, including tables, microwaves, phones, and bathrooms, were in dire need of disinfecting. According to the inmates, corrections officers routinely distribute cleaning supplies to inmate porters for disinfecting twice daily. Inmates reported that they are not given cleaning supplies on an individual basis, although the press release states that NDOC offenders at all facilities are provided cleaning products upon request. Warm Springs inmates disagreed and said that they are only able to purchase Comet from the commissary; however, it is not always accessible or affordable to everyone.
In answer to the reportedly unsanitary conditions at Warm Springs, W. C. Quenga, Deputy Director of NDOC and acting Public Information Officer, said in an email, “We did not receive any complaints as we do have Health and Safety Inspections. If there were any, we are not aware." Quenga continued, “All common areas frequented by offenders are sanitized at a minimum of every two hours and as needed.” The inmates that initially expressed concern about the conditions during a viral pandemic responded to Quenga's statement with “That is absolutely a lie - that has not been happening. At least not in our unit.”
It was also reported that hand sanitizer is not freely accessible to inmates after someone attempted to ingest it. Quenga confirmed this had been the case. "Regarding hand sanitizer, it is available to all inmates in their units. When requested, officers have been instructed to give the offenders a squirt of sanitizer in their hands.” Inmates disagree, stating that this was also untrue or perhaps they have not been told that they could make the request.
During the first weeks of the lockdown/quarantine when nearly 90% of inmates were experiencing COVID symptoms, cell changes were still being made. Inmates believe it was an attempt to place them in groups to reduce the potential of the infection spreading. However, it was too late; the virus was already on the move.
During the lockdown, individual meals were delivered to WSCC from Northern Nevada Correctional Center (NNCC), also in Carson City. Inmates have complained to family members that they received reduced meal portions to the point that they have experienced significant weight loss. Additionally, two inmates that were sick with the virus said that it took five days to get Tylenol for their symptoms.
NDOC issued a press release on December 3rd that the department has entered into a contract with Quest Diagnostics for testing in prisons and other state facilities. Meanwhile WSCC remains on quarantine lockdown. According to NDOC, the majority of inmates who tested positive reported no symptoms, others had mild symptoms, and three individuals had to be transported to the hospital. Fortunately, all three individuals have since been discharged. WSCC stated that they are working to balance safety and reduce the spread of the virus, while maintaining as many of the inmates’ privileges as possible. WSCC inmates disagree with the statement, contending that is not the case in all units.
Overall, questions are arising about the potential mishandling of the virus. The Facebook group Return Strong: Families United for Justice for the Incarcerated are gaining momentum with NDOC and state officials. They are asking for something to be done about the several issues, including a lack of medical care/treatment for inmates with COVID or chronic conditions. They are also addressing issues like the unavailability of PPE (masks) and hand sanitizer, staff not wearing PPE, alleged staff misconduct, and more. They are paying particular attention to any reported human rights violations as the ACLU of Nevada has weighed in on the potential mismanagement of COVID in Nevada’s prisons. "We warned that we would see an outbreak of COVID-19 in our institutions without swift action, and our recommendations were ignored," stated a spokesman for the the organization in July. "We’re again calling for the state to take meaningful steps to prevent further harm and injustice, or else we will.”
Jodi Hocking, Return Strong founder and prison reform advocate, says, “We have been working tirelessly on multiple approaches to the pandemic in our prisons and jails. Now we have to hold them accountable because they didn't do that themselves.”
Comment
Comments