How the COVID-19 Pandemic is Devastating Incarcerated People and their Communities
![A black man sits behind bars depicted by a red block, and floating germs and virus added to collage.](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2020/12/COVID-Decarc-2800x1400-1.jpg)
How the COVID-19 Pandemic is Devastating Incarcerated People and their Communities
The United States is the largest incarcerator in the world, with just four percent of the world’s population but 21 percent of its incarcerated population. Further, the conditions in our prisons, jails, and immigration detention centers are notoriously overcrowded, unhygienic, and cruel. It was thus clear very early on that the pandemic would lead to disproportionate suffering and loss of life in these facilities and their surrounding communities unless substantial action to release incarcerated people was taken.
There is still time to right these wrongs. Local, state, and federal officials must reduce the number of people in prisons, jails, and detention centers by not incarcerating anyone for low-level charges, releasing those who are bail-eligible, and releasing those who are disabled and otherwise medically vulnerable to the virus.
Last updated on September 24, 2021
A Look at the Numbers
![Number of imprisoned people dying of Covid](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2021/01/COVID-Decarc-Stats.jpg)
See the full database here. Updated: September 24, 2021.
In The Courts
Featured Stories
![Syringes with doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine on a surgical tray.](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2020/12/WEB20-Moderna-COVID-Vaccine-WordPress-1110x740-1-400x266.jpg)
Incarcerated People Should Get Priority Access to the COVID-19 Vaccine. It's the Smart and Humane Thing to Do.
If officials fail to prioritize incarcerated individuals for the vaccine, we will take them to court.
Incarcerated People Should Get Priority Access to the COVID-19 Vaccine. It's the Smart and Humane Thing to Do.![Mother and daughter reunited on yellow background](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2020/04/ChalanaMcFarlandHero-reduced-400x266.jpg)
After a Lifetime Apart, COVID-19 Prison Release Reunites Mother and Daughter
Chalana McFarland describes what it's like to be incarcerated during the pandemic and the moment she learned she'd be released due to COVID-19.
After a Lifetime Apart, COVID-19 Prison Release Reunites Mother and Daughter![Collage of seven immigrants who share their experiences of being detained during the COVID-19 crisis.](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2020/08/Immigrant-Portraits-Header-400x266.jpg)
What's it Like to be in Immigration Lockup During a Pandemic?
Seven immigrants share their experiences of being detained during the COVID-19 crisis.
What's it Like to be in Immigration Lockup During a Pandemic?