An outbreak of COVID-19 in Arkansas's prison system is spreading quickly, and now the state is reviewing the records of nearly 2,000 state prisoners for potential early release. The state is rushing to test 1,400 inmates at the Cummins prison in the Delta. Of the 634 tests done so far, 348 people have tested positive for the virus. Six staff have so far tested positive.

UPDATE 4/21: The number has climbed to 670+ inmates and 10 staff testing positive.

UPDATE 4/23:

687 tested positive at Cummins

35 staff at Cummins have been infected.

UCI Forrest City. 75 inmates and 10 staff.

We SUPPORT the state taking necessary, corrective actions to stem the spread of COVID-19. We APPLAUD public health officials and state leaders who are doing the right thing -- and making sure COVID-19 doesn't run rampant through our prisons and surrounding communities.

That includes support for: reviewing early release for the elderly; releasing those who have been granted parole and expedite new parole hearings; inmate cases within a year of eligibility for supervised release should be immediately considered; and the release of prisoners, with good behavior, who have served 90% of their time, or low-level offenders should be considered.

We OPPOSE efforts to ignore the spread of the virus in prisons, including failing to list them with the state's infection totals.

Thank you for showing people in our prisons, and our elected leaders, that we value public health, human life, and making bold, necessary steps in this unprecedented time.