university of texas, at least 18 parole-approved inmates died from covid-19 while working to complete programs as a condition of their release. the report found that paroled inmates waited five to eleven months during the pandemic before being released. today, there are more than 10,000 paroled inmates who remain behind bars, inmates like brent denby. >> i have a kid i want to go home to, a family. people dying around me. i mean it is a terrifying situation. am i going to make it out of this alive, you know what i mean. >> reporter: jeremy diesel is a spokesman for the texas department of criminal justice. he says there are only a few dozen active cases of covid in the texas prison system right now. what do you say to those inmates that are still worried as they're on the back end? they see the finish line and they're worried they may not make it there because of covid? >> make sure you are vaccinated. >> reporter: vaccines are now available to all texas prisoners. around 52% have received at