Kat’s Blog: Things That Make You Go, Hmmm

Not wanting to fill jails during the coronavirus, LA police have decreased the amount of arrests they make from 300 per day to 60. A sort of “catch and release program”, if you will.

If they can do that now, doesn’t that mean they’re usually arresting and putting far too many people in jail?  Hmmm.

Prisons and jails have begun releasing low-risk inmates early, (with the exception of those with a sex offense), putting them on community supervision, parole and GPS ankle monitoring in an attempt to free up space in facilities in the event there is need for quarantine areas.

Doesn’t that just prove the point that those inmates were safe enough to have been let out all along and that we, as a society, keep many low-level inmates in jails and prisons far too long? Hmmm.

Our grocery store shelves are devoid of toilet paper.  The “hoard mentality” at work.

Prisoners can’t stockpile toilet paper, in fact, having more than two roles results in an infraction. Hmmm.

Those of us on the outside are strongly advised to maintain 6 feet “social-distancing”.

Prisons and jails are over-crowded, the air is stale, toilets are communal and inmates are sleeping on unsanitary blankets and mattresses on cement floors. How does that advice help them? Hmmm.

On the outside, hand sanitizer is everywhere (including hoarded in closets.)

Inmates on the other hand, have no access to “alcohol-based” hand sanitizer or bleach, they must take care of their personal hygiene and cells the best they can with mild, non-antimicrobial, all-purpose cleaner. Having an excess of “cleaning rags” by inmates is considered contraband. Hmmm

Those of us who aren’t incarcerated can continue to maintain phone/computer contact with our loved ones during this pandemic.

Some prisons have discontinued visits and virus-lockdowns have put an end to phone calls. One facility was encouraging inmates to put a sock over the phone receiver to avoid spreading germs. Were they supposed to use the sock that they were wearing on their foot? (Having extra socks is an infraction in some facilities.)  Hmmm?

This comment was made by Kenton Commonwealth’s Attorney Rob Sanders in Kentucky “With few exceptions, anybody non-violent, who didn’t offend against a child, stands a very good chance of being released from jail.  We all know that the coronavirus getting into one of these jails would be a very bad thing for everybody.”

Is he suggesting it wouldn’t be bad for those in the jail, that are non-violent but charged with a sex offense?  Hmmm.

This comment made by Madison Circuit Judge Jean Chenault Logue, Kentucky “I’ve asked the commonwealth’s attorney and chief public defender to review the jail list and find candidates for release.  Not everyone will qualify. Some inmates are charged with violent crimes or sex crimes, or they have a history of bond violations that indicates they cause problems when released before trial.”

Seems no matter what the “sex crime”, the label gets you automatically categorized with those charged with violent crimes and those who cause problems. Hmmm.

Groups such as the ACLU and The Sentencing Project are asking officials to consider early release for elderly prisoners and those at risk, at least those who don’t pose a risk to the general public.

Many of those charged with sex offenses are at personal risk when in general population in jails and prisons. Many of them would not be a risk to the general public if they were released early. And yet, none of those charged with a sex offense will be released early despite the pandemic risk. Hmmm.

I like this comment the best.  It comes from Virginia Beach Sheriff Ken Stolle “Now is the time for us as a society to decide who we are mad at and who we are afraid of and only incarcerate those we’re afraid of.”

In the past few weeks, society has learned to wash their hands. Perhaps society can learn that not every registrant needs to be feared.

Hmmm.