The ACLU of Ohio is very concerned about the impact of COVID-19, aka coronavirus, in Ohio's prisons, jails, youth, and ICE detention facilities and how it may and will affect people locked up in these locations.
We recognize it is frequently difficult for incarcerated individuals to report problems behind bars to those outside. With COVID-19, we understand it will be even more difficult. For that reason, we encourage families, loved ones, facility staff and others to report to us problems they are aware of, concerns, and observations using covid19@acluohio.org. Our plan is to use this information to most effectively advocate for those incarcerated and identify trends so we can protect the civil liberties of all. (Please note: e-mailing covid19@acluohio.org does not offer or guarantee legal representation or advice. If you are seeking legal assistance, please submit a complaint for review through our Need Legal Help page.) Link to Department of Rehabilitation and Correction information about current visitation policies plus DRC’s own phone number and email regarding COVID-19 concerns can be found here.
COVID-19 IN PRISONS, JAILS, & Youth facilities
Recent efforts on criminal justice and transparency:
- March 10, 2020: Letter to Governor DeWine regarding COVID-19 and DRC
- March 17, 2020: ACLU of Ohio Unveils Two New Efforts Regarding COVID-19 and the Incarcerated Population
- March 19, 2020: ACLU of Ohio, Policy Matters Ohio, and Juvenile Justice Coalition Urge Gov. DeWine to Publish and Enact Plans for DYS and Local Jurisdictions
- March 24, 2020: Ohio Advocacy Groups Urge Ongoing Transparency Regarding COVID-19 Concerns in Prisons and Youth Facilities
- March 26, 2020: Ohio Prison & Youth Facilities Now Providing Daily Updates Re: COVID-19 Following Coalition Request
- March 27, 2020: Advocacy Groups Send Request to Governor DeWine: Reduce Incarcerated Populations Immediately
- April 1, 2020: ACLU of Ohio Urges Governor DeWine to Consider Seven Categories When Determining Prison Reductions
- April 1, 2020: Updates on COVID-19 Hotline for Ohio's Incarcerated Population
- April 6, 2020: Juvenile Justice Advocates Express Concern about Youth in Shelter Care & Non-Secure Residential Facilities in Letter to Juvenile Stakeholders
- April 7, 2020: ACLU of Ohio, Ohio Organizing Collaborative, and Policy Matters Response to Governor DeWine's Prison Release Recommendations
- April 10, 2020: Blog Post: Coronavirus Will Spread like Wildfire in our Prisons without Sweeping Action
- April 13, 2020: ACLU of Ohio and Ohio Justice and Policy Center File Class Action Habeas Petition on Behalf of Prisoners at FCI Elkton, Where 3 People Have Died As a Result of COVID-19
- April 22, 2020: Federal Judge Order to Elkton to Identify and Evaluate Prisoners Eligible for Transfer Out of Prison Following ACLU of Ohio Petition
- April 24, 2020: ACLU of Ohio Produces List of Priority Questions for Governor DeWine and Dr. Action
- April 27, 2020: ACLU of Ohio Ramps Up Advocacy to Release Vulnerable People in Prisons and Jails With New Television Ad
- April 28, 2020: Blog Post: Reducing Ohio Jail Populations Will Help Flatten the Curve, So What Are Counties Doing About It?
- April 29, 2020: ACLU of Ohio Files Public Records Requests for DeWine Administrations' Knowledge of Potential COVID-19 Outbreaks in Prisons
- April 30, 2020: ACLU of Ohio Response to Press Briefing with ODRC Director Chambers-Smith
- May 4, 2020: Sixth Circuit Denies Bureau of Prisons Request to Stall Release & Transfer of Medically Vulnerable Prisoners from Elkton
- May 5, 2020: ACLU of Ohio Files Formal Request with ODRC For Public Records re Handling and Management of COVID-19 in Ohio Prisons
- May 18, 2020: Death Rate in Ohio Prisons 10x Higher than Rate for State’s Total Population
- May 19, 2020: A Federal Judge Issues Order to Enforce Compliance, Requiring Elkton Prison Officials to Expedite Transfer & Release of Medically Vulnerable Subclass through Home Confinement and Compassionate Release
- May 22, 2020: ACLU of Ohio Asks Supreme Court to Deny Bureau of Prisons Request to Block Order That Will Save Lives
- May 26, 2020: Supreme Court Denies Bureau of Prisons’ Request to Block Order That Will Save Lives
- June 3, 2020: ACLU Asks Supreme Court to Again Deny Bureau of Prisons Request to Block Order That Will Save Lives
- June 9, 2020: Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals Strikes Down Ruling Requiring Bureau of Prisons to Release Medically Vulnerable People at Elkton FCI
- August 8, 2020: ACLU of Ohio Calls on Judges, Prosecutors to Implement Specific Jail Depopulation Strategies in Anticipation of a COVID-19 Resurgence
- September 9, 2021: The Bail Project, ACLU of Ohio, and the NAACP urge Cuyahoga County leaders to undertake all possible measures to prevent the spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19
COVID-19 & Immigration Detention
Recent efforts in immigration detention:
- April 8, 2020: Immigrants’ Rights Organizations Urge County Officials in Butler, Geauga, Morrow, and Seneca to Suspend Collaboration with ICE
- April 10, 2020: ACLU of Ohio Sues ICE Seeking Release of Immigrants Especially Vulnerable to COVID-19 from Two Ohio Facilities
- April 18, 2020: Federal judge in Cleveland orders release of man in ICE custody over coronavirus concerns
- April 24, 2020: ICE agrees to release two more at-risk detainees from Ohio jails due to coronavirus pandemic
- April 25, 2020: ACLU of Ohio Sues ICE Seeking Release of Immigrants Especially Vulnerable to COVID-19 from Morrow and Butler County Jails
- April 28, 2020: Saying some ICE lockups are in ‘the eye of a storm,’ Ohio judge orders release of detainees due to coronavirus
- April 30, 2020: Federal judge orders release of additional ICE detainees from Geauga County Jail due to coronavirus
- May 5, 2020: ACLU of Ohio Files New Habeas Petition in Federal Court, Seeking Release of 20 Additional ICE Detainees from Morrow County Jail
COVID-19 & Voting Rights
Recent efforts on voting rights:
- March 13, 2020: Letter to Gov. DeWine and Members of OGA Regarding Ohio's Primary Election
- March 16, 2020: ACLU of Ohio Statement on Delayed Election
- March 17, 2020: ACLU of Ohio Statement on Ohio's Primary Election
- March 19, 2020: Demand for Voter Registration Deadline Extension
- March 24, 2020: Filing of Amicus Brief in Ex Rel Ohio Democratic Party v LaRose
- April 16, 2020: ACLU of Ohio Statement on Dismissal of Ex Rel Derek Lichtenwalter v DeWine
- April 28, 2020: Court Denies Relief to Ohioans for Secure and Fair Elections, In-Person Signature Requirements Remain Despite COVID-19 Pandemic
- May 20, 2020: Federal Court Grants Relief to Ohioans for Secure and Fair Elections Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic, Allowing Electronic Signatures and Extending Deadline
- May 22, 2020: To Prevent a Primary Repeat, ACLU of Ohio Sends Letter to Ohio Leaders Recommending Voting Reforms Ahead of General Election
- May 26, 2020: Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals Grants Stay on Electronic Signature Gathering, Pending Appeal of District Court’s Ruling
- June 11, 2020: Immediate Action Must Be Taken to Prevent a General Election Disaster, Says ACLU of Ohio
- June 18, 2020: Ohioans for Secure and Fair Elections Suspends Campaign
- July 2, 2020: ACLU of Ohio Urges Secretary LaRose to Diversify ‘Ready for November Task Force’ Which Lacks Representatives from Voting Rights, Disability Access, Re-Entry, and Black and Minority Led Organizations
- July 31, 2020: Groups Sue Ohio Over Unconstitutional Signature-Matching Procedures for Mail-In Ballots
COVID-19 & Abortion
Recent efforts on abortion rights:
- March 30, 2020: Ohio Abortion Providers File Emergency Lawsuit to Preserve Essential Abortion Procedures During Pandemic
- March 30, 2020: Hours After Abortion Providers Sue Ohio, Judge Grants Emergency Relief for Patients Seeking Abortions
- April 24, 2020: Federal Court Preserves Abortion Access in Ohio During COVID-19 Pandemic
- May 8, 2020: Playing Politics with Essential Health Care: Abortion Access in Ohio during the COVID-19 Pandemic
COVID-19 Related action Alerts
- Tell Governor DeWine He MUST Act Now To Stop Coronavirus In Ohio's Incarcerated Populations
- Tell Ohio Leaders To Denounce Discrimination Against Asian Communities
COVID-19 Related Efforts
- April 30, 2020: ACLU of Ohio, NEOCH, and Fair Housing Center Call on Governor DeWine to Prevent Mass Evictions Amid COVID-19
- April 21, 2020: Blog Post: COVID-19 Highlights Long-Known Issues of Systemic Racism
- June 1, 2020: Parades May Be Canceled, but You Can’t Cancel Pride
- June 16, 2020: My COVID-19 Experience on the Inside of Marion Correctional Institution
For a list of actions taken by other organizations, please visit our Partner Action page.
