Prisoners in American correctional facilities have been infected by COVID-19 at a disproportionate rate. Estimates from the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy report that prisoners are infected at a rate 5.5 times higher than the rest of the general population. Close quarters without the ability to social distance as well as swaths of people moving in and out of correctional facilities make for prime locations for infection to spread.
This graphic visualizes the states with the highest COVID-19 rates for prisoners in correctional facilities in America. Of all the states in the country, Arkansas has the highest COVID-19 infection rate among prisoners. The analysis shows that the state has seen 4,502 cases per 10,000 prisoners. In terms of COVID-19 deaths, New Jersey has the highest death rate at 34 per 10,000 prisoners. Florida has had 161 prisoners die of COVID-19, the highest in the country.
While hopefully the COVID-19 vaccine helps slow the spread of the virus, individuals in correctional facilities continue to be at risk.
Infographic by: statutes-of-limitations
