Letter to the Editor - Need to do better with prison population during pandemic

Editor,

Health care experts across the board have all stated that practicing social distancing, adequate hygiene, and good medical care are crucial in combating the spread of COVID-19. Ironically enough, those things are often in part, or wholly, unavailable to people currently in our carceral systems. This virus is dangerous, but it is especially dangerous among incarcerated populations. Without action, these people will die

Montana needs to do better. There needs to be a coordinated effort across the state to mitigate, or even prevent an outbreak. We can do this by decreasing the amount of unnecessary arrests and detainments being made; releasing people who are pretrial or convicted of low-level offenses; and making sure that individuals have access to adequate hygiene products.

People are scared right now, understandably, but we cannot let fear destroy our humanity. To be human means that even in the middle of a global pandemic, we cannot forget one of our most vulnerable populations.

Danielle Vazquez

Rocky Boy/Missoula