ICYMI: Governor Andy Beshear Of Kentucky Addresses Prison Overcrowding in Effort to Keep All Kentuckians Safe from COVID-19
As Virus Burns Through Nation’s Justice System, Kentucky Leads on Safely Reducing Prison Population
Justice Action Network, Nation’s Largest Bipartisan Criminal Justice Reform Organization, Applauds Governor Beshear for Executive Order that Will Save Lives “49 Other Governors Should Be Following Andy Beshear’s Example”
(Lexington, KY) – As COVID-19 continues to spread, creating dangerous conditions in the country’s jails and prisons, Governor Andy Beshear of Kentucky announced on Thursday an executive order that will safely and significantly reduce the Commonwealth’s incarcerated population. This measure will help stop the spread of COVID-19 among people in prison, correctional officers, healthcare workers and the general public. It comes just days after Justice Action Network led a bipartisan coalition of advocates in urging a reduction in the prison population as part of the fight against COVID-19.
Governor Beshear’s executive order commutes the sentences of 186 individuals that are elderly or have preconditions making them more vulnerable to the virus. The Secretary of the Cabinet, J. Michael Brown, also announced that 743 additional people within 6-months of completing their sentences will be released, possibly as early as next week.
“Forty-nine other Governors should be following Andy Beshear’s example,” said Holly Harris, Executive Director of Justice Action Network, a Kentucky native. “Three days ago, leaders from the far right to the far left wrote to Governor Beshear asking him to take immediate steps to safely reduce the incarcerated population in Kentucky prisons as a way to help stop the spread of the coronavirus – and the Governor’s swift action will save lives. Overcrowded prisons have become ground zero for the spread of COVID-19, threatening the lives of people behind bars, correctional officers and those in their surrounding communities. We are grateful for Governor Beshear’s leadership during this crisis, and we urge governors in red, blue and purple states all over the country to follow in his footsteps and protect all people from this deadly virus.”