Bristol County sheriff says no to releasing prisoners in response to virus

March 20, 2020
Sun Chronicle
By David Linton

Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson is shutting the door on demands he release prisoners in light of the coronavirus pandemic, saying doing so would endanger the health and safety of the public and inmates.

Elizabeth Matos, executive director of Prisoners’ Legal Services said, “Public health and epidemiology experts are clearly calling for reducing the numbers of people incarcerated because they know that the virus will get into jails and prisons and that the results could be catastrophic.”

Matos said Hodgson’s response “is irresponsible and lacking in understanding the gravity of the situation. He is putting people in his custody at risk. Inaction and inertia could, quite frankly, directly lead to infection and death.”