Fresno sheriff: Coronavirus won’t change inmate release protocol
Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims on Thursday said that there will be no changes to jail protocol regarding early inmate releases due to coronavirus.
Mims reacted to reports that some county jails, including the Sacramento and Sonoma county facilities, are making early releases of some inmates because of the pandemic. A Sacramento Sheriff’s spokesman said such releases have been “very small.”
Said Mims:
“We are not overcrowded.”
She cited a longstanding court order which limits jail capacity to 3,000. On a normal day, that means about seven inmates are cut loose.
Mims said the Fresno jail is taking steps to address the pandemic. Those moves include directing deputies to minimize the number of people booked into the jail by issuing citations for non-violent and low-level crimes, and asking other Fresno County law enforcement agencies to follow similar policies.
Fresno police frequently write citations instead of booking low-level offenders, but “if someone needs to be arrested, we arrest them,” said spokesman Jeff La Blue.
Mims said booking procedures have been changed at the jail to limit exposure for inmates and correctional officers, through a plan developed in conjunction with Wellpath, the jail’s medical provider. That includes an initial risk assessment of arrestees outside the building in the facility’s sally port. Arrestees are asked if they have been to countries hard hit by the virus, including China, Italy or Iran, in the past 14 days, and if they have been in contact with anyone who may have the virus. They are also checked for a fever or other common symptoms.
“Medically unstable” arrestees determined to be a high risk for the virus are sent to a hospital for additional evaluation. Those considered stable, but at risk, are being isolated and monitored in the jail. A similar, longstanding policy is followed for arrestees with other medical conditions.
The jail’s booking area is now closed between 7 and 8 a.m., the least-busy time, for a complete cleaning and sanitizing, said the sheriff.
The Fresno jail categorizes inmates into 11 levels of risk assessment. While some jails, including Sacramento’s, take into account factors such as an inmate’s age (over 65, for example) or an immunodeficiency, Mims said the Fresno policy would keep such inmates in custody if they were a “very violent” offender.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhat you should know about the coronavirus
The World Health Organization has officially declared the spread the novel coronavirus as a pandemic, and the virus is spreading in the United States, particularly on the West Coast.
Officials are urging people to take precautions to avoid getting sick, and to avoid spreading the disease including social distancing.
Click the drop-down icon in the upper right of this card for more information on symptoms and how to stop its spread.
What is coronavirus?
Coronaviruses are a class of viruses that regularly cause illnesses among adults and children. But, this outbreak is caused by SARS-CoV-2, a novel virus that has spawned a new disease called COVID-19. This infection can cause a particularly harsh respiratory condition and can lead to death in older individuals and those with underlying health problems.
The CDC believes the COVID-19 virus spreads among humans by person-to-person contact, including via cough and sneezing. That’s why health officials urge sick individuals to avoid contact with other people. Social distancing of 6ft is recommended for everyone.
For more information, visit the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What are the symptoms?
Corona means crown, and the virus has little spikes that help it attach to your respiratory system. Symptoms are similar to the flu and include congestion, coughing, shortness of breath and a runny nose. But, it can worsen causing pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome and death.
How can I stop the spread of the coronavirus?
How does it spread?
We’re still learning about this infection. Things are changing constantly. The spread seems to be from bigger droplets, coughing, sneezing on your hands and then touching your eyes, your nose or mouth. The influenza virus can last on surfaces for 24 hours. For this virus, we are still learning how long it can last but it may be as long as 48 to 72 hours.
And what you can do to help stop the spread:
Practice social distancing, and definitely stay home if you’re ill. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, and cover your coughs and sneezes.
If you develop symptoms similar to the coronavirus, you should stay home from work or school and avoid contact with others. It can take up to 14 days after coming into contact with the virus to develop symptoms.
Taking precautions is the best way to stop the spread of the coronavirus. For more on how it spreads, watch this video.
Note: No public health agency has recommended that the general public wear masks to stave off infection. Here are more public health recommendations:
- Practice social distancing
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If you really can’t get to soap and water, then use a hand sanitizer that has at least 60 percent alcohol.
- Can’t wash your hands right away? Avoid touching your mouth, nose and eyes as these are areas where the pathogens can invade your body.
- Practice cough hygiene with covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze, either using a disposable tissue or into your clothed elbow. Throw used tissues in the trash right away.
- If you are sick, stay at home. If you develop respiratory symptoms contact your doctor for advise and to determine if you need to go for care or viral testing. Call ahead before seeing medical care at a doctor’s office, clinic or emergency department, as they’ll need to separate you to help protect others.
- ChrisAnna Mink, Modesto Bee, and McClatchy staff
This story was originally published March 19, 2020 at 1:25 PM.