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During this Coronavirus crisis while most decent people are displaying signs of compassion, concern and generosity for their communities Sheriff Hodgson is once again spewing his mantra of keeping the community safe by aligning with the anti release of inmates (decarceration) position.
Hodgson is also touting his ability to adhere to the protocols mandated and recommended by medical authorities to keep those imprisoned safe from contracting or infecting their fellow inmates or the prison employees. But as has been proven so many times the conditions in the Bristol County Houses of Correction and the ICE detention centers under his supervision are rife for the spread of the coronavirus.
Sheriff Hodgson does not have the state or federal authority to release anyone as these powers reside in other departments in Massachusetts as well as the federal government as relates to ICE detainees. But Hodgson could have lent his voice to the many who have expressed sincere concern for incarcerated and detained people who could and should be released immediately for a variety of reasons, least of which is that they are pre-sentence, have never been convicted of a crime or are being detained for a civil infraction and are not a risk to the community. And Hodgson could have offered to cooperate with the district attorneys, judges and ICE officials as so many other caring and ethical sheriffs have done in Massachusetts and nationally.
Unfortunately as the coronavirus spreads nationwide and inevitably within the prison system the justification for not releasing some of these people when prudently possible will then become a true risk of contagion to the community and treating them in place is the only viable alternative.
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Betty I. Ussach
Dartmouth.
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