Doing COVID-19 Time: The Impact Of The Coronavirus Pandemic Inside America's Prisons

COVID-19 continues to create turmoil in America’s prisons, proving to be superspreader sites for prisoners and staff alike. Incarcerated individuals are uniquely at risk as prison conditions aid the spread of the disease through overcrowding, poor ventilation, and delayed or inadequate medical care. Approximately 441,000 inmates have contracted the virus while incarcerated (Prison Policy, 2021) and although prisoners have a constitutional right to healthcare, the system continues to be unable to provide safe and timely treatment to those in their care and custody. The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of COVID-19 in America’s state prisons as well as the additional personal and social costs associated with the pandemic (e.g., lockdowns, limited visitation, etc.) while making policy recommendations to promote safer living and working conditions.