Updated: 5:52 PM CDT May 13, 2021 The Iowa Department of Corrections faced criticism Thursday for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in state prisons.The Des Moines Black Liberation Movement sent a letter to the state Thursday stating that Iowa inmates are effectively facing death sentences” as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread.The letter features a list of demands including the enforcement of all COVID-19 safety protocols by prison staff and not penalizing inmates with COVID-19 symptoms for not working.Supporters of the movement said they sent similar demands to the Iowa Department of Corrections at the beginning of the year and saw some progress, but not enough.“COVID continues to be a threat to the lives of our incarcerated community members, especially since nearly half of Iowa s prison staff refused to get vaccinated,” said Jade Suganuma, with the Central Iowa DSA.The full letter and list of demands can be read here.The Iowa Department of Corrections
AP
A coalition of racial justice organizations and community advocates are calling on state leaders to take urgent action to control the spread of the coronavirus within Iowa s jails and prisons.
A coalition of racial justice organizations and community advocates are calling on Iowa officials to take aggressive and proactive steps to slow the spread of the coronavirus within the state’s jails and prisons. The groups are sending a letter to state officials including Gov. Kim Reynolds, the Department of Corrections and the Board of Parole, as well as Immigration and Customs Enforcement, calling for urgent action in the often overcrowded facilities, where staff have struggled to control explosive outbreaks.