Federal Prisons and COVID-19

Federal Prisons and COVID-19

All over the country into here."

Union reps for officers at the federal prison in terre haute say you should be worried about what's happening inside -- and outside the compound.

Good evening and thanks for joining us.

The u.s. attorney general has issued new recommendations to the federal bureau of prisons.

He's urging officials to determine whether there are prisoners eligible for home confinement.

This is to combat the covid-19 pandemic.

Tonight we're learning new information about the at-risk population inside the prison.

The attorney general says there are 10-thousand inmates in the prison system over the age of 60.

About one-third of those inmates have pre-existing conditions.

Around 40 percent are serving time for violent crimes or sex offenses.

The attorney general says he wants officials to determine which inmates might be eligible for home confinement.

Officials would use several factors in their decision... including: age, vulnerability to the virus, their conduct while in prison and the threat they "could" pose to the community.

The attorney general isn't the only person worried about the safety of prison systems. news 10's heather good begins team coverage tonight with more on concerns at a "local" prison.

Heathe} federal law enforcement officers in terre haute, indiana say they could be bringing the coronavirus home to their families.

They claim the bureau of prisons has restricted inmate movements in and out of the facility but it is not enough to keep people safe from covid-19.

Pk} the federal correctional complex in terre haute, indiana includes a prison and the nation's only federal death row.

Nearly 3-thousand inmates call the complex home.

"it's very confined spaces, very confined areas and when we get sickness that comes in it goes through that place like wildfire."

Afge local 720 is the union representing federal law enforcement officers working at this complex.

I spoke with union leadership about the issues officers are facing inside the compound.

"our own city around us is locked down but what you see behind me is running normally.

It's an open city in there."

The bureau of prisons oversees 122-facilities including this one.

It has restricted inmate movements -- but union leaders say not nearly enough.

Inmates are still leaving the compound for court appearances and non-emergency doctor visits.

"if we as non-institutionalized individuals are expected not to go to the doctor right now we shouldn't be taking inmates from inside the institution out to the community unless its an emergency situation."

In just 15 minutes... our cameras captured video of three inmate transfers.

Employees are also being screened as they come into work.

According to unions leaders... they stop at this tent to take their temperature.

If it's over 100.4 degrees -- they go home -- but union leaders say that is not always happening.

Meanwhile... there is an adequate supply of personal protective equipment and n-95 masks but union leadership has been fighting the agency to be able to use them.

They also say inmates with covid-19 symptoms are not being tested.

There are 4 tests at this compound but more than 4 inmates in isolation.

"it's a easy way to tell people that we don't have any inmates that are positive for this virus when we're not testing inmates."

Now these union leaders are calling on the public to contact elected leaders so they can put pressure on the department of justice.

Heathe} members of congress are also calling on the bureau of prisons to make changes.

In terre haute, heather good, news 10.

We reached out to the federal bureau out to the we reached we reached out to the federal bureau of prisons for comment.

It says the bureau has implemented a "comprehensive management approach."

You can see the response and find a link to the bureau of prisons website