Sheriff Advocates Releasing Certain Offenders to Prevent Coronavirus Outbreak in Jail
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — “I’m advocating for what’s right.”
That was the start of a series of tweets from Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez. He said he supports the release of non-violent, elderly offenders with serious underlying health conditions. This is meant to prevent a coronavirus outbreak in the Harris County Jail.
But the process is not going to be easy, Sheriff Gonzalez hinted.
“I am but one actor in a larger criminal justice system,” the sheriff tweeted. “I do not hold the authority to release. We are dependent on others that do hold the authority.”
Sheriff Gonzalez said as of now, Harris County jail is not in crisis and he does not support a mass release. But he supports releasing offenders in greatest need in order to give them a chance to survive if an outbreak was to occur.
“I’m trying to do my part to serve our broader community and healthcare workers by not adding more potential ICU patients from my jail,” said Sheriff Gonzalez. “I’ve tried to be proactive, I’ve tried to educate others about the seriousness of the issue.”
Sheriff Gonzalez said if there is a coronavirus outbreak inside the jail there is space to quarantine some offenders, but that space is limited with a population of about 8,000.
Sheriff Ed’s Full Tweet
“I’m advocating for what’s right. The safe release of non-violent, Senior age individuals with serious underlying health conditions (medical status vetted by our Dr). We can provide case management. But, I am but one actor in a larger criminal justice system. I do not hold the authority to release. We are dependent on others that do hold the authority. In the meantime, our jail is not in crisis.
“I continue to manage a clean & safe jail. But the time to act, is before a crisis hits, and I’m trying to prevent a #COVID19 outbreak in my jail. To protect my personnel and to give our most vulnerable inmates a chance to survive. I’m trying to do my part to serve our broader community and healthcare workers, by not adding more potential ICU patients from my jail.
“I’ve tried to be proactive, I’ve tried to educate others about the seriousness of the issue. We can balance the safety of the community & the measured release of this narrow group of human beings in greatest need. We do not need mass releases, I do not support that.”
Ed Gonzolez, Twitter