Meek Mill‘s REFORM alliance has pledged to help combat the spread of the coronavirus in prisons.⠀⠀⠀⠀
Mill’s criminal justice organization REFORM Alliance has launched a plan called S.A.F.E.R. Plan that comes in the form of a policy that lists suggestions to help curve the spread of COVID-19 in prisons.
The organization, which is a collaborative effort of Jay Z, Philadelphia 76ers co-owner Michael Rubin, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, has brought together a team of medical experts and social justice advocates to create a plan for correctional facilities and its officers to protect inmates from contracting the disease.
Prisons across the country are in a high-risk environment for the outbreak, as inmates are not able to practice preventative methods like social distancing. Meek Mill plans to recommend new policies and safety procedures that will assist prisons and jails with keeping the travel of coronavirus at bay. This proposal also includes measures for correctional officers who monitor inmates during the day and return home to their families. The components of the SAFER Plan are defined in the acronym: Suspend jail for technical violations, suspend probation office visits and payment of fines; Adopt smart alternatives to incarceration; Free medical visits and treatment, hand sanitizer, soap, and protective gear; Extra precautions for guards and staff; and Release elderly and vulnerable to home confinement.
“As our country takes measures to protect against coronavirus, we can’t afford to forget about the millions of people under the control of our criminal justice system. People in prisons, jails, or under community supervision are more at risk of contracting and spreading the virus, given their age, underlying health conditions, and close contact with each other. Protecting these individuals from coronavirus is not just a moral obligation, but necessary to preserve the health and safety of our communities,” said Jessica Jackson, REFORM Alliance’s chief advocacy officer, in a press release.
According to the Billboard.com, the plan has been endorsed by Faith and Freedom Coalition, Justice Action Network, National Urban League, R Street Institute as well as other organizations. “In the midst of a viral epidemic, continuing to operate in this fashion is, to put it bluntly, insane. Yet far too many local and state courts, jails, prisons, and probation and parole offices continue to proceed as if nothing has changed — even as schools, bars, restaurants, gyms, and businesses shutter because of COVID-19. Our nationwide addiction to incarceration seems unbreakable, even when it puts us at risk of disease,” said added Arthur Rizer, director of criminal justice & civil liberties at R Street Institute, in the release. The initiative mentioned that prison and jail inmates are disproportionally affected by health issues. Of the 2.3 million incarcerated people in the U.S., roughly 165,000 are over the age of 55. Compared to the general population, people in jail and prison are more likely to have pre-existing health conditions,” the petition page read.
The plan will also be giving activists a guide for how to call action to politicians for their support of the S.A.F.E.R. Plan
