The ACLU of Iowa is working, along with partner organizations, to make sure that people in Iowa's criminal justice system are protected as much as possible from the spread of COVID-19.
Here are some of the latest news and updates on that effort:
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Find out why the Black Hawk County Jail is at its lowest occupancy since it was built.
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Read how the Linn County sheriff is making the jail safer during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Get details on the changes the Des Moines Police Department is making during the COVID-19 outbreak.
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Learn more about the Iowa Governor's 20 March proclamation suspending all evictions during the period that Iowa remains under a state of emergency, except in limited circumstances.
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Read the Iowa Judicial Branch's announcement that all Clerk of court offices and courtrooms remain open for criminal and emergency cases that cannot be conducted by videoconference or telephone, including but not limited to domestic abuse and sexual assault protective orders.
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Learn more about Iowa prisons implementing free phone calls and emails and pilot project for video calls for people incarcerated in state prisons.
- Read our letter with 51 specific recommendations sent to our state and local leaders on changing Iowa's criminal legal system to protect public health.
- Get details on what the ACLU is doing nationally to urge federal, state, and local leaders to minimize the impact of COVID-19 in our prisons and jails.
- Read about bipartisan leadership in Congress to remove vulnerable prisoners.
- Find out what Iowa prisons are already doing to speed the release of approved inmates to mitigate COVID-19.
- Read the Washington Post article on how thousands of inmates are being released to prevent the "disaster waiting to happen."
- Find out about how the Johnson County Sheriff's Office is suspending evictions.
