GOP lawmaker raises alarm about NYC releasing 'potentially dangerous and contagious inmates'
by Jerry Dunleavy
| March 31, 2020 04:33 PM
A Republican member of the House Oversight Committee raised concerns about New York City’s plan to release prisoners during the coronavirus pandemic, just as Mayor Bill de Blasio announced hundreds of inmates have been let go so far.
Georgia Rep. Jody Hice, the ranking member of Oversight’s Subcommittee on Government Operations, wrote to New York City Department of Correction Commissioner Cynthia Brann on Tuesday, telling her “we are concerned about the New York City Department of Correction’s recent efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19 by releasing potentially dangerous and contagious inmates back into the city.†The Georgia Republican said he wants information about "what mitigation efforts are in place to ensure public health and safety.â€
As part of an effort meant to stop the spread of the coronavirus among inmates, de Blasio said during a Tuesday afternoon press conference that 900 prisoners have been released as of late Monday night.
The pandemic has hit New York particularly hard. The New York Times reported the statewide number of confirmed cases increased by 9,298 to 75,795 on Tuesday, with 43,139 of the cases in New York City. There are more than 10,900 hospitalized patients, including 2,710 in intensive care rooms that have ventilators.
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https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/gop-lawmaker-raises-alarm-about-nyc-releasing-potentially-dangerous-and-contagious-inmates
