U.S. prisons are overrun with the coronavirus while other nations are holding nonstop emergency hearings to release as many people as possible.
The United States is addicted to punishment, and it just might kill us. Coronavirus outbreaks in jails and prisons not only threaten one of the most vulnerable populations in the country, but also their lawyers, prison personnel, their families, and everyone else. While several countries have taken progressive, nationally coordinated action to reduce prison populations and prevent widespread infection, institutions across the U.S. continue to prioritize punishment over public health.
In Palestine, where the government brought the country to a screeching halt to contain COVID-19, the courts remain open for emergency hearings. “Emergency” in this context means that courts are occupied almost exclusively with hearings devoted to getting people released from jail and prison. Detention centers are on lockdown so lawyers cannot visit their clients, but authorities have made sure that people in detention are able to talk to their lawyers by phone.
In Tunisia, courts also remain open for emergency matters. The courts have had difficulty reliably transporting detainees to court due to COVID-19, so defense lawyers and prosecutors worked together and successfully lobbied judges to grant release motions in absentia. Some prosecutors are even appearing in court to argue for release on behalf of unrepresented defendants because they understand that releasing people from custody is in the public interest.
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