Thousands of low-level U.S. inmates released in pandemic could be headed back to prison

[dalton99a]

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-justice/thousands-of-low-level-u-s-inmates-released-in-pandemic-could-be-headed-back-to-prison-idUSKBN2BY0AU

April 11, 2021 5:10 AM
Thousands of low-level U.S. inmates released in pandemic could be headed back to prison
By Sarah N. Lynch

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - For Kendrick Fulton, the COVID-19 pandemic opened the door to an unexpected opportunity to rebuild his life in Round Rock, Texas, after serving 17 years behind bars for selling crack cocaine.

As officials scrambled last year to stem the spread of the coronavirus in prisons, the Justice Department let Fulton and more than 23,800 inmates like him serve their sentences at home.

But as more people are vaccinated, thousands could be hauled back into prison to serve the remainder of their sentences, thanks to a little-noticed legal opinion issued by the Justice Department in the waning days of Republican former President Donald Trump’s administration.

Congressional Democrats and justice-reform advocates have called on President Joe Biden and U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland to reverse the opinion, but so far the new administration has not acted to rescind the memo.

[elleng]

1. Well, that'll go over well

[marble falls]

2. If he didn't need to be in prison during Covid, he dosen't need to be there after covid ...

... 17 years for crack sales. What did the white kid get for selling cocaine?

[Voltaire2]

3. Why?

What is the point? If there were no problems with a person while released, why not just leave them as they are?

Perhaps prisons are for the most part completely unnecessary.