Amend at UCSF brings a public health approach to transform correctional culture into one of dignity and humanity for staff and residents. During the COVID-19 pandemic, our team of medical, public health, and prison reform experts has leveraged our collective expertise to provide clear and actionable steps for shaping COVID-19 policy, procedure and practice inside correctional facilities.

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• Please share your requests and resources needs with Amend via email.

 

Highlighted Resources

Amend Webinars

 

 

For Correctional Leaders

COVID-19 Management Checklist

Establish policies and practices to mitigate an outbreak in your facility.  Leverage the COVID-19 Policy Checklist.

Educate your staff and residents

• • Prepare correctional staff with training COVID-19 in jails and prisons: Essential information for non-medical staff 
  • Example of clinical guidelines for your medical staff
  • Share this video, COVID-19 in Correctional Settings for Residents, with the residents in your facilities

Reduce resident count using Population Reduction Guidelines and make the case for decarceration. 

Limit transmission and outbreak through social distancing via small cohorts or “mini-communities”

Additional Questions? Email Amend

Further reading

• • SciLine: COVID-19: Health Disparities and Vulnerable Populations
  • Critical Value Podcast (Urban Institute): How Can We Minimize Coronavirus Risk in Prisons and Jails?
  • The Ethical Use of Medical Isolation (Not Solitary Confinement) To Reduce COVID-19 Transmission in Correctional Settings
  • COVID-19 in Correctional Settings: Challenges and Solutions
  • The Appeal: “The Pandemic Exposes the Shared Fates of the Jailed and the Jailer”
  • The Appeal: “A Public Health Doctor and Head of Corrections Agree: We Must Immediately Release People From Jails and Prisons”

 

For Correctional Officers

COVID-19 Management Checklist

Watch this video to learn about COVID-19, how it spreads and how to lower your risk

Learn the difference between medical isolation, quarantine and solitary confinement and communicate the difference to residents

Learn about PPE (personal protective equipment), and how to put on and take off masks

Additional Questions? Email Amend

Further reading

• • The Ethical Use of Medical Isolation (Not Solitary Confinement) To Reduce COVID-19 in Jails and Prisons 
  • The Appeal: “The Pandemic Exposes the Shared Fates of the Jailer and the Jailed”

 

For Correctional Healthcare Staff

COVID-19 Management Checklist

Refer to this sample PDF to develop clinical guidelines for COVID-19.  Amend’s evaluation and treatment algorithm can assist as you face challenges in correctional settings

 

Ensure staff and patients understand the distinction between medical isolation, quarantine and solitary confinement 

Understand the medical/public health rationale for decarceration during COVID-19 and follow these steps to request compassionate release during COVID-19

 

Develop and communicate a medical prognosis for incarcerated patients

• • Webinar reviewing how to prognosticate during COVID-19
  • Communicate a patient’s risk of poor outcomes to correctional leaders or policymakers; review Amend’s release guidelines and use our template letter and sample letter (modify as needed)

 

Understand Advance Care Planning for Incarcerated Patients and discuss with patients and other medical staff

 

Additional Questions? Email Amend

Further reading

• • COVID-19 Correctional Healthcare Policy Checklist
  • Algorithm for the Evaluation and Treatment of COVID-19 in Correctional Settings
  • COVID-19 Release Letter Template (editable word document)
  • COVID-19 Release Letter Sample (editable word document)
  • National Commission on Correctional Health Care: COVID-19 Weekly Roundtable For Law Enforcement & Correctional Health Care Webinar
  • Health Affairs: Correctional Facilities In The Shadow Of COVID-19: Unique Challenges And Proposed Solutions

 

For Advocates

COVID-19 Resources

• Video: Learn how to support correctional facility residents
• Learn more about Advance Care Planning for Incarcerated Patients and start the conversation
• Understand the difference between solitary confinement and medical isolation
• The Appeal: “The Pandemic Exposes the Shared Fates of the Jailed and the Jailer”

 

All Amend Resources

• Limiting COVID-19 Transmission and Outbreak in Correctional Settings: Release, Cohort, Test (Updated 5/4/2020)
• Public Health-Focused Decarceration Guidelines
• The Ethical Use of Medical Isolation (Not Solitary Confinement) To Reduce COVID-19 Transmission in Correctional Settings
• COVID-19 in Correctional Settings: Challenges and Solutions
• Immediate Population Reduction Recommendations
• COVID-19 Correctional Healthcare Policy Checklist
• Clinical Guidelines for COVID-19 in Correctional Settings (updated 4/28/2020)
• Algorithm for the Evaluation and Treatment of COVID-19 in Correctional Settings (updated 4/28/2020)
• COVID-19 Release Letter Template (updated 4/10/2020) (editable word document)
• COVID-19 Release Letter Sample (updated 4/10/2020) (editable word document)

Helpful Links

• CDC Interim Guidance on COVID-19 in Correctional and Detention Facilities
• World Health Organization: Preparedness, prevention and control of COVID-19 in prisons and other places of detention
• Prison Policy Initiative: Response to the COVID-19 pandemic
• National Commission on Correctional Health Care: COVID-19 Resources
• The Justice Collaborative: COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Response & Resources
• Root & Rebound COVID-19 Response
• Los Angeles County Department of Public Health: Guidance for Correctional and Detention Facilities
• European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT): Statement of principles relating to the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty in the context of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic
• Penal Reform International COVID-19 Resources
• International Corrections and Prisons Association (ICPA) COVID-19 Resources
• The Lancet’s COVID-19 Resource Centre
• United Nations: High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet’s call to action
• Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Geriatrics and Long-term Care: The ABCDs of COVID-19