In light of the global COVID-19 pandemic and its disastrous impact on incarcerated populations (so far 44 people incarcerated in the Missouri Department of Corrections have tested positive for COVID-19, and there has been 1 death), the Prison Education Project (PEP) Executive Board sent a letter to Governor Parson calling for the compassionate release of elderly and/or infirm individuals who are incarcerated in Missouri prisons as well as those who are months away from their release date. Below is the original letter as well as a template letter for anyone who is interested in adding their voice and support to this petition. Feel free to fill in the template with your information and/or edit the letter as you see fit. You can submit the text of the letter in the comment/message box here.
Please consider advocating for incarcerated individuals who, in the midst of a global pandemic and national emergency, are trapped in an even more precarious position due to their lack of access to adequate healthcare and their inability to practice necessary social distancing or follow the recommended preventative guidelines for hygiene and sanitation. You can track the number of reported COVID-19 cases within the Missouri Department of Corrections here.