03/27/2020; UPDATED: 05/01/2023
Sheriff Sandage: Free the Homies During COVID-19 Pandemic
COVID-19 has wreaked havoc in societies across the world, shutting down economies and pushing governments to their limit to prevent the spread of the deadly virus. The novel coronavirus is especially contagious spreading via aerosol, and has been found to remain functional on surfaces for several days. It appears that on average every infected person is likely to infect an additional 2.5 people, much higher than the seasonal flu which infects about 1.3 additional persons (this means ten people can transmit the virus to up to 250 people, and so on). Furthermore, the virus can remain in a person for up to fourteen days without showing symptoms, but is contagious well before you start coughing and sneezing (unlike the flu, which is most contagious several days after showing symptoms). Finally, COVID-19 is fatal in about 10 out of every 1,000 people, which is about 10 times more lethal than the seasonal flu.1
In the last month, every civilization across the globe has found they have one mission: lowering the curve. Lowering the curve means doing everything possible to lower the rate of new infections so as not to overwhelm societies healthcare infrastructure. Every local, state, and federal agency needs to make this their number one goal in order to prevent untold suffering, death, and economic devastation. How are we supposed to do this? Neo-liberalism has invented a term: social distancing. Avoid crowds and close contact with people; remain isolated if possible. Illinois, like many other states & nations, has instituted the closure of all inessential business, gatherings of larger than ten people, the closure of all bars and restaurants (with the exception of delivery, carry-out, and drive-through businesses). I have literally had friends tell me to shoo when I stopped by recently.
Yet, there are some places where social distancing is impossible. One place is jails & prisons. In Mclean County jail, it is next to impossible to keep away from other people. Jails, prisons, and detention centers are well known to quickly spread infectious diseases causing a crisis that the jail healthcare is ineffective and inadequate to handle. There are currently about 153 inmates in the 455 bed jail. Mclean County Sheriff Jon Sandage has stated he has no plans to release anyone saying, “I’m not trading one public safety issue for another.” His response to the COVID-19 pandemic was to prohibit in-person visitations, requiring family members to pay to speak to inmates over phone and video.
Sandage’s inaction is putting the entire Mclean County community at risk by doing nothing. But how Zach? Isn’t he keeping dangerous people off the streets? Hardly. The overwhelming majority of people sitting in jail are there pre-trial. Most have not been convicted of any crime, and the only reason they are not free on the street is because a bond was set for their release that they have been unable to afford. According to jail census data, about 3 are there awaiting misdemeanor trials, while the rest are awaiting felony charges. It is not the case that they are their because they are a danger to themselves or the community. If that was the issue, they would have been denied bail in the first place. Bail is not set to prevent dangerous people from being released into the community. Bail is in place only to guarantee a defendant makes it to trial. The only reason most inmates are currently in Mclean County jail is because they are too poor to afford release. A far more cost effective method of guaranteeing court appearances is pre-trial services, like court reminders and assistance in getting to court.
Sandage claims there is increased scrutiny on who enters the jail. “We’ve encouraged law enforcement, if they feel it’s prudent, to issue I-bonds on the street or refer low level and traffic cases to the state’s attorney for review. Judges have suspended work release and weekend sentences so these individuals are not coming in and out of the jail.” He further claims the jail are taking greater precautionary measures including more extensive medical questions and temperature checks. Correctional staff and other workers also are checked daily for elevated temperatures.
Yet, inmates inside the jail are stating they have been told there will be no checks for COVID-19, and that even if they are seriously ill they won’t be taken to a hospital. Inmates are currently being held in close quarters, with one estimation being 58 individuals to a pod. This is truly unconscionable that during a pandemic where everyone is being told to stay 6 feet away, that people are being held in such close quarters. It is not a matter of if COVID-19 will hit the jail, but when. And, when it does, the jail medical facilities will be overwhelmed, people may die, and taxpayers will be footing those medical bills. And, those medical bills will be yuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge! That would just be the beginning. Imagine the wrongful death suits that will be filed for pre-trial inmate deaths; chances are the county will settle most of them meaning more tax payers footing the bills for easily preventable issues.
This pandemic will not only effect inmates, but guards and other jail officials like medical employees. These community members are essential workers; and, they’re going to the same grocery stores and restaurants as the rest of us and so are their families. Checking individuals temperature is just not going to cut it. Most people have mild if any symptoms. Sandage is not only putting inmates lives at risk, but his own workers and by extension the whole Mclean County community.
So, why is Sandage taking such a dangerous position? It’s all about those dollar dollar bills, yall. Forcing inmates to pay bonds is income revenue for the jail. Even if they can’t pay it, each day an inmate stays in jail is a sum of money going towards Sandage’s departments. I’ve heard from one County Board member that the price could be as high as $200 per person per night (which should be a scandal on its own; Peoria only pays $130 per person per night). If Sandage doesn’t release anyone, for two whole months, his department would get $1,836,000. [Editor’s note: This information is incorrect, and Agitation Rising retracts it entirely. The actual cost of an incarcerated person per day at the McLean County Detention Facility is $75. Agitation Rising apologizes for the error.] Sandage has a vested interest in keeping the jail as full as possible. Every fiscal year when the County has to allocate its budget, the Sheriff can stand there claiming that because the jail is full, they need more money. It is exactly the same reason Sandage and so many other sheriffs across Illinois have vehemently opposed efforts to abolish cash bail. It’s a revenue source; plain & simple.
Nothing could show the profit motive more clearly than the sheriff’s callous response to complaints about visitation and communicating with inmates. His response to the COVID-19 pandemic was to prohibit in-person visitations (which are free), requiring family members to pay to speak to inmates over phone and video. The county, like so many jails, prisons, and detention centers in the age of neoliberalism, have outsourced communication services to a private corporation, IC Solutions Advanced Technology, who charge exorbitant prices to poor individuals who already can’t afford a bond payment. Of course, part of the charges gets funneled to the jail budget. Currently, it costs $7.50 for a thirty minute video visitation and .25¢ per minute for phone calls.. Despite canceling in-person visitation (which was the right decision), when asked about making the telecommunications free during the pandemic, Sandage responded indifferently, “Everyone is being inconvenienced right now. There are people in hospitals and nursing homes who can’t have visits.”2 No shit. But, it doesn’t cost $7.50 to talk to someone in the hospital over the phone. Not only are these family members less likely to be able to afford bail, but with people loosing their jobs over COVID-19, they definitely won’t have the money to communicate with their loved ones during a freakin pandemic! How heartless can a person be?
If Sheriff Sandage truly wants to prevent a crisis at the jail and save taxpayer money, he would release any pre-trial detainee that has been deemed not a threat to themselves or others. Furthermore, any nonviolent convicted inmates currently serving their sentence in county should be temporarily released during the pandemic or moved to a temporary site. Yes, it would be difficult and unprecedented. But we are living in difficult and unprecedented times. Yes, it would take time to guarantee released inmates have a place to stay. If necessary, put ankle monitors on everyone released and order house arrest. If the concern is that these people are a threat to the public, then call an emergency court hearing in front of a bail judge for each one to redetermine their threat level. Remember, bond is not for dangerous people but to guarantee an appearance at court. The resources spent relocating inmates, for electronic home surveillance, for pre-trial services, and logistics would be a pittance compared to the healthcare costs for inmates, guards, sheriff deputies, and jail staff, or the possible wrongful death suits taxpayers would have to pay (not to mention the obvious moral & health consequences this decision would precede for our entire community).
Sheriff Sandage’s current policies in response to the novel coronavirus are not just irresponsible, they are outright dangerous to our entire community. The sheriff, like every resident, has one goal for at least the next two months, and that is to FLATTEN THE DAMN CURVE! Any action or decision by a government official that subverts that goal is reprehensible. It is the difference between a two month shelter in place order, or a five month shelter in place order. It’s the difference between a low death count and a high death count. It’s the difference between spending tens of thousands of tax dollars and tens of millions. It’s the difference between the jail housing a few dozen dangerous individuals, or a few dozen corpses.
If you agree, contact Sheriff Sandage right now. Call the McLean County Sheriff’s Office, the State’s Attorney’s Office, and the Chief Judge’s Office and ask that they decarcerate in the name of public health!
Sheriff Jon Sandage
(309) 888-5034
Sample script:
“Hi, my name is ______ and I live in _________. I’m calling to demand that Sheriff Sandage take steps to dramatically lower the number of people in jail in response to COVID-19. People sitting in jail on bail should not be risking their health and life simply because they cannot afford their money bond!
In addition, the Sheriff should improve access to phones, offer free video “visitation,” and make sanitation, hygiene and cleaning supplies available free of charge to anyone that remains incarcerated during the pandemic.”
State’s Attorney Don Knapp
(309) 888-5400
“Hi, my name is ______ and I live in _________. I’m calling to demand that McLean County State’s Attorney ,Don Knapp, take steps to dramatically lower the number of people in jail in response to COVID-19. He should instruct the prosecutors to use their discretionary authority to dismiss as many cases as possible, avoid imposing multiple charges for each indictment, and minimize the severity of recommended penalties. He should also instruct judges to give the least restrictive release conditions.”
Chief Judge Mark Fellheimer
309-888-5254
“Hi, my name is ____ and I live in _______. I’m calling to demand that Chief Judge Mark Fellheimer take steps to dramatically lower the number of people in jail in response to COVID-19. This means facilitating bond review hearings for people currently in jail and instructing judges not to admit new people to the jail. In addition, he should mandate ibonds on misdemeanors and probational felonies.”
If they tell you they can’t help, you can emphasize that:
“We are in a moment of crisis and need all county officials to do everything in their power to keep people safe. Incarcerated people are among the most vulnerable during this pandemic, we need you to do everything in your power to meet these demands, whether that’s your office taking unprecedented action or working with other county stakeholders.”
