ENROLLED
2020 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 46
BY REPRESENTATIVE JONES
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To urge and request the Department of Public Safety and Corrections to study the impact of
COVID-19 on its operations, specifically as it pertains to the safety and security of
inmates and staff at its facilities, as well as the feasibility of releasing nonviolent
offenders and its impact on mitigating the spread of COVID-19, and to report the
number of inmates and staff that have died as a result of COVID-19.
WHEREAS, in February 2020, the Department of Public Safety and Corrections
released a letter to its staff and state prison offenders regarding the implementation of
policies and procedures of inquiring with staff and all visitors about any symptoms related
to COVID-19 and recent travel; and
WHEREAS, according to the policies, if a person presented any symptoms, such as
fever, persistent cough, or shortness of breath, or recently traveled to or from certain
locations, an additional risk screening was performed and the person may have been denied
access to the prison until symptoms subsided; and
WHEREAS, for the safety and security of the inmates and staff in the eight state
prisons, the Department of Public Safety and Corrections suspended visitations, tours, and
volunteer work; and
WHEREAS, in lieu of visitation, the Department of Public Safety and Corrections
worked to expand access to telephone services to ensure inmates had continued access to
family and friends during the pandemic; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Safety and Corrections also worked to secure
hygiene and protection supplies, such as soap, masks, and gloves; and
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WHEREAS, each state prison identified areas to quarantine the incarcerated
population of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections; and
WHEREAS, on March 28, 2020, the Department of Public Safety and Corrections
reported its first confirmed case of COVID-19 within its prisons; and according to the
Department of Public Safety and Corrections, there were thirty-nine COVID-19 positive
inmates and thirty-six COVID-19 positive staff members as of April 9, 2020; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary for the Department of Public Safety and Corrections to
study the release of certain nonviolent offenders from its custody during a declared state of
emergency and public health emergency in order to reduce the number of positive cases in
the prison population; and
WHEREAS, it is important for the Department of Public Safety and Corrections to
strive to maintain the safety, security, and well-being of its inmate population and staff and
to take necessary precautions to mitigate any potential spread of COVID-19.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
urge and request the Department of Public Safety and Corrections to study the impact of
COVID-19 on its operations, specifically as it pertains to the safety and security of inmates
and staff at its facilities, as well as the feasibility of releasing nonviolent offenders and its
impact on mitigating the spread of COVID-19, and to report the number of inmates and staff
that have died as a result of COVID-19.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Public Safety and Corrections
shall report its findings to the legislature no later than January 1, 2021.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
to the secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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