Governor’s office says the memo was inadvertently released. Advocates worry politics is being placed over public health.
The releases come five days after the U.S. Attorney General directed prisons to “maximize appropriate use of home confinement.”
The ACLU has filed a class-action suit requesting the release of medically-vulnerable prisoners.
The number of positives jumped by 13 over the weekend. OPSO considering housing positive inmates in state prisons.
At least three people have tested positive for the virus while in custody at the New Orleans jail. Twenty-two Sheriff’s Office staffers have also tested positive.
Inmates say they fear for their lives. Officials are no longer testing and will not release number of suspected cases
The court was originally scheduled to reopen this week. That has been extended to at least April 13, and could be extended further.
Bureau of Prisons does not plan to release number of presumed positive prisoners.
Eleven staffers, six healthcare contractor employees have tested positive as well.
Judges say no one in jail is currently being held on minor, non-violent charges alone.
