Epidemiology of COVID-19 Among Incarcerated Individuals and Staff in Massachusetts Jails and Prisons (JAMA Network Open)
Incarcerated populations have exceptionally high risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission and mortality due to overcrowding, movement through facilities, and high rates of chronic illness; hence, physical distancing is not a viable mitigation strategy. As of June 6, 2020, at least 42 107 cases and 510 deaths have occurred among individuals incarcerated in US prisons. Decarceration and increased testing may reduce transmission, but their efficacy is uncertain.
Jails confine nearly one-third of incarcerated individuals, but data on COVID-19 in jails are limited. However, Massachusetts reports data on COVID-19 in both county jails and state prisons. We describe the COVID-19 burden in these settings and its association with decarceration and testing rates.