Elderly Texas Prisoners Can Be Denied Soap And Hand Sanitizer, Court Rules

Topline

A federal appeals court has ruled against two Texas prisoners who had asked for more protective measures against the spread of Covid-19, including access to hand sanitizer, with the court ruling that a global pandemic is not sufficient ground to bring the lawsuit.

Key Facts

Crucial Quote

“TDCJ could have done more to protect vulnerable inmates in the Pack Unit. But federal judges are not policymakers,” the judges said in their ruling.

Key Background

Prisons are among the settings that present the highest risk for becoming coronavirus hot spots. The Wallace Pack Unit is exceptionally high risk, given that it houses “geriatric, medically compromised, and mobility-impaired inmates.” Valentine and King filed the lawsuit in March, leading to a weekslong trial at the District Court level that ruled in their favor. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has argued that effective protective measures are in place at the Wallace Pack Unit, while also saying that the inmates there might drink hand sanitizer due to its alcohol content or use it to start fires at the prison.

Big Number

161. That’s how many inmates have died in the Texas prison system, including more than 20 at the Wallace Pack Unit. The Texas prison system has more deaths than any prison system in the U.S., including the entire federal prison system.

Tangent

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) says that restrictive measures in the state have significantly slowed the spread of coronavirus. As a result, Abbott is allowing bars in Texas to reopen at 50% capacity starting on Wednesday. New cases and deaths have remained stable over the past few days in Texas, but coronavirus hospitalizations are ticking up.

Further Reading

Federal appeals court says Texas doesn’t have to give geriatric inmates hand sanitizer for now (Texas Tribune)

Bars Will Be Allowed To Reopen In Texas, Gov. Abbott Says (Forbes)

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