Assistant Professor Joe Mead Assists in Helping to Protect Prisoners from COVID-19

Assistant Professor Joe Mead assisted with the recent winning efforts by the ACLU to protect vulnerable federal prisoners at the Elkton Federal Correctional facility from the COVID-19 virus. In his decision, Judge James Gwin of the Northern District of Ohio found that the threat of COVID-19, which had killed six inmates at Elkton, was sufficient cause to release or relocate inmates who were susceptible. He ordered that officials identify all inmates over the age of 65 and those with medical vulnerabilities. Once identified, those inmates are to be released or relocated to other facilities. 

At the same time, the State of Ohio reported that 3,954 cases of COVID-19 has been confirmed among staff and prisoners at Pickaway Correctional, Marion Correctional, and Franklin Medical Center—all state facilities.