Three inmates at Jackson County jail have contracted the coronavirus, sheriff says
Three inmates at the Jackson County Detention Center have tested positive for the new coronavirus, Jackson County Sheriff Darryl Forté said Monday.
The jail, Forté said, has taken several steps to prevent spread of the virus including enhancing disinfecting practices, implementing social distancing strategies, and isolating confirmed and suspected cases.
Last month, more than three dozen people and organizations — including medical professionals, the Missouri State Public Defender, the ACLU of Missouri, the state NAACP, professors and the sheriff of St. Louis — called on the Missouri Supreme Court to order judges to release certain detainees in county jails. That included those serving time for misdemeanor offenses, municipal or probation violations as well as inmates considered to be high-risk for serious illness or death.
The Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys called the proposal an unwarranted and sweeping “one-size-fits-all” measure. In its response, it urged the high court to “trust local courts and sheriffs to make particularized decisions considering each individual case.”
At least 80 inmates at the Jackson County jail have been released in response to the threat of the pandemic.
Jackson County has identified 223 COVID-19 cases and six people have died. The Kansas City metro area including Jackson County has reported more than 1,200 cases and 56 deaths.
This story was originally published April 13, 2020 at 10:17 PM.
