The American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut (ACLU) is pressing to have the state Department of Correction (DOC) allow the release of certain inmates from state prisons, if they are at high risk of serious illness due to potential COVID-19 contamination.

In a March 12 letter to Governor Ned Lamont, DOC Commissioner Rollin Cook, and many other high state officials, David McGuire, the executive director of ACLU of Connecticut, urges that the state government “institute furloughs, compassionate release, and expedited parole for incarcerated people who are at high risk of serious illness from COVID-19.”

Newtown is the site of Garner Correctional Institution, a state high-security prison at 50 Nunnawauk Road that houses up to 600 male inmates. Garner specializes in providing treatment for prisoners with chronic mental health problems. On March 3, Garner held 543 inmates

In his letter to Gov Lamont, McGuire wrote that state law allows the DOC commissioner to issue a 45-day furlough, which is renewable, for any incarcerated person to obtain medical services not otherwise obtainable, or for any compelling reason consistent with rehabilitation. Older adults and people with serious chronic medical conditions are at higher risk of becoming seriously ill due to COVID-19, McGuire noted.

“To protect the health of high-risk prisoners who meet these criteria, and minimize exposure for other incarcerated people and DOC staff, we urge the (DOC) commissioner to use his discretionary furlough authority to release incarcerated people who are at high risk of serious illness from COVID-19, and who pose no flight risk or threat to public safety,” McGuire adds.

Such a furlough would constitute preventative medical care for those inmates, which would not be available to them while they are incarcerated and confined within the close quarters of a prison, McGuire wrote.

In response to the ACLU letter, Max Reiss, the governor’s director of communications, wrote, “DOC has taken preemptive measures to ensure the safety of all staff and incarcerated individuals. At this moment, there are no plans to release currently incarcerated individuals. Further, the members of the Lamont Administration have been in direct communication with this group, relaying the state’s efforts and listening to their concerns.”

On March 18, DOC spokesman Andrius Banevicius said that no individual currently incarcerated by DOC has tested positive for COVID-19.

Among many other measures, effective March 13 the DOC has canceled all visits to prisoners in view of the COVID-19 pandemic to protect the health of inmates, employees, and the public.