Dispiriting review of more COVID news from jails and prisons around the US

In this recent post, I noted many headlines and news stories that detailed how coronavirus cases among inmates and staff were impacting jails and prisons nationwide. Four days later, another round-up of these stories proves even more dispiriting with news of COVID deaths and ever-growing numbers of cases.  Here is just a sampling of headlines from some of our largest criminal justice systems as of mid-afternoon Sunday March 29:

National: “Spread of coronavirus accelerates in U.S. jails and prisons“

Federal: “Coronavirus claims first federal prisoner; 49-year-old drug offender dies in Louisiana“

Florida: “Seven Florida Department of Corrections employees test positive for COVID-19“

Georgia: “Lee State Prison inmate dies, 4 staff members test positive for COVID-19“

Illinois: “Coronavirus In Chicago: 89 Inmates, 12 Staff At Cook County Jail Test Positive For COVID-19“

Michigan: “Coronavirus cases surge in Michigan’s crowded prisons“

New York: “Coronavirus claims life of NYC correction officer, union says“

Texas: “3 COVID-19 Cases Confirmed in Texas State Prisons; 42 Employees Isolating at Home“

Sadly, but unsurprisingly, Rikers Island is its own COVID-replicating land: According to this recent press piece, “as of Sunday, 114 DOC corrections officers and 139 inmates have tested positive for COVID-19.”