The COVID-19 outbreak has impacted all aspects of life in the United States, including the jail and prison systems. There have been reports from all over the country about inmates and staff testing positive for the coronavirus, which has prompted many correctional facilities to grant early release to specific inmates to prevent the spread.
On April 3, 2020, Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle announced that 18 inmates will be granted an early release from Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department facilities. These inmates were supposed to be released within the next two months.
On March 19, the 7th Judicial Circuit (which covers Volusia, St. Johns, Putnam, and Flagler counties) have started releasing inmates convicted of nonviolent crimes and serving short-term sentences. Volusia County Brach Jail granted 88 inmates who were convicted of various misdemeanor and felony offenses, while 28 low-level, nonviolent inmates with short sentences were given early release from the St. Johns County jail.
On the same day, Hillsborough County jail released more than 160 inmates accused of misdemeanors, traffic crimes, ordinance violations, and third-degree felonies. In Broward County, 336 inmates were released between March 19 and March 25.
On March 26, Attorney General William Barr sent a memo to the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), instructing federal institutions to prioritize home confinement to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The initial qualifications include inmates who are seniors and/or suffering from underly health conditions that make them particularly vulnerable to the disease, but then expanded to include inmates who haven’t completed half of their sentences.
If you have a loved one who is currently locked up in a Miami-Dade County or Broward County jail during the pandemic, The Hoffman Firm is committed to helping your loved one obtain early release in order to avoid contracting COVID-19. We can review his/her case, determine their available legal options, and help him/her get out of jail or prison as soon as possible.
For more information about early release in Florida, contact us today at (305) 928-1669 and request a free consultation.