URGENT: Over 4000 people are currently held in jails on State Road here in Philadelphia.
Prisons and jails are some of the most dangerous places in the world right now for incarcerated people, prison and jail staff, the lawyers who defend arrested and incarcerated people, and the families who love them – because of coronavirus.
The District Attorney, Defenders Association, and Department of Prisons are working to try to get as many people as can be released safely out of jail now, to save their lives and the lives of the lawyers, prison staff, and court staff who interact with them every day. With those staff moving about in Philadelphia, the potential epidemic in the jails isn’t just a risk to incarcerated people – but our entire city.
The First Judicial District Court is moving far too slowly to let people out: time is running out to save their lives – we must demand they act today.
Join us tuesday for a mass email day to demand the court move to massively release people from Philadelphia’s jails!
First, you can email the head judges and administrators of the court - cut and paste these emails and this text into your email program:
Dear First Judicial District Court Judges Fox, Dugan, and Tucker, and Court Administrators McSorely and Rapone:
My name is _______, and I am asking you and the entire First Judicial District to work now to stop putting people in jail during the coronavirus crisis, and to let as many people as possible come home from jail as can be released safely.
I am concerned that there are thousands of people in our jails who are at huge risk of catching the coronavirus in their facilities – with little ability to keep clean or to protect themselves or other incarcerated people. Many of them could be safely released into our communities. Many of them have deep health risks that put them at risk of death. Many are at risk of infecting prison, sheriff and court workers who come in and out of our courts every day.
Please move today to direct all court magistrates to stop setting bails for people accused of a crime, and to review the bails of all the people currently incarcerated. Please issue an order directing the release of everyone over 60 years old, all pregnant people, and everyone with a serious illness or medical condition that puts them at risk of this illness. Please assign an emergency judge, who sits every day, whether via video conference or in court, to hear parole petitions. Please expedite a process to immediately review and lift all probation and parole detainers. Please release youth held in juvenile detention centers and adult jails And grant furloughs for those people not eligible for parole or immediate release now.
Your actions could save thousands of lives in our jails, and millions of lives in our community. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter in this time of crisis.
Signed,
2nd - Most of the court and city is shut down, but you can still call the Mayor of Philadelphia who can advocate for the courts to let people come home from jail:
Call the mayor at 215-686-2181 now or at 311, and say: “Hi, my name is ________________, and I’m calling to ask that you do everything in your power to push the First Judicial District to stop setting bails for people, and to do everything it can to send newly arrested and currently incarcerated people home during this coronavirus crisis.”
