RICHMOND, Va. -- As communities around the world take measures to self isolate, those who are imprisoned face a very different reality.
In Virginia, Governor Northam is encouraging criminal justice officials to explore proactive measures to combat the spread of COVID-19 while ensuring public safety.
Virginia Secretary of Public Safety Brian Moran said that the state has eliminated transfers between county or city jails and Department of Correctional facilities. They've also cut off visitation for now.
Additionally, Moran said they are taking a two-pronged approach to do that in jails and prisons.
"The parole board has withdrawn warrants on technical violations for a number of individuals," Moran said. "And what that will do is prevent those from re-entering into the criminal justice system."
"Secondly, we have expedited release on parole for those who have already been released, which eliminated relations between the parole supervisor and the individual," Moran said.
