Number of Monroe inmates testing positive for coronavirus up to 10
As the number of inmates testing positive for COVID-19 reached 10 wednesday at the Monroe Correctional Complex, Gov. Jay Inslee signed an emergency proclamation that enables the state to more quickly release inmates to free up space for social distancing.
The proclamation and an accompanying commutation order came two days after the state said it plans to release 600 to 950 nonviolent offenders early to free up space in state prisons to fight the COVID-19 outbreak.
“The Department of Corrections has taken significant action at my direction to address the threat of COVID-19 to the incarcerated population,” Inslee said in a statement. “But it can be difficult to maintain proper physical distancing in our correctional institutions and because of that, it makes sense to release certain individuals who may be at particularly high-risk during this outbreak.”
DOC updated its website on Wednesday to show that the number of inmates testing positive at the Monroe prison has increased from seven to 10. A department spokesperson didn’t return messages seeking comment on Wednesday.
On Thursday morning, a DOC spokesperson said in an email: “Each of the three individuals were housed in the Minimum Security Unit of the Monroe Correctional Complex. One individual is in the 51-55 age range and two individuals are in the 41-45 age range.”
The state’s early release plan was required by the state Supreme Court, which on Friday directed Inslee and Stephen Sinclair, Secretary of the Department of Corrections, to “immediately exercise their authority to take all necessary steps to protect the health and safety” of inmates in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
The court order was in response to an emergency motion filed by a nonprofit law firm, Columbia Legal Services. The group filed a lawsuit last month seeking the release of certain inmates around the state who are vulnerable to becoming infected with COVID-19.
Nick Straley, an attorney and assistant deputy director of advocacy at Columbia Legal Services, has said the state is “moving too slowly and too timidly” in response to the outbreak.
The pandemic requires significant reductions in the number of people locked up in all of Washington’s prisons, Straley said.
State Sen. Keith Wagoner, R-Sedro Woolley, expressed concern about the inmates’ release.
“There is absolutely no assurance that these inmates would have appropriate COVID-19-free environments outside the correctional facilities; they could be more likely to be exposed to this virus if released. And without adequate testing, we may actually be introducing the virus to our communities,” he said.
“A rapid release of inmates is also likely to overwhelm post-incarceration services and available housing. With everything else the state is struggling with, we should not be taking rash action to mollify special-interest groups just because they have attorneys,” Wagoner said.
This story was originally published April 15, 2020 at 8:30 PM.