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Sheriffs complain about new EO

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Illinois

* Jerry Nowicki at Capitol News Illinois…

While Gov. JB Pritzker issued a new executive order this week allowing for transfers into state prisons at the discretion of the Illinois Department of Corrections director, an association representing the state’s sheriffs contends that the move was more show than substance.

Jim Kaitschuk, executive director of the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association, said Wednesday that the new order’s stipulation that transfers are allowed “within the sole discretion of the Director of IDOC” effectively renders the latest executive order inconsequential.

“I think the perception was from the EO that he issued on Monday was that the prisons were open,” Kaitschuk said. “Well, that’s not factually accurate. It’s kind of like having a sign on your door for a business saying it’s open, but the door’s locked.” […]

The requirements are difficult for county jails to meet, Kaitschuk argued, because COVID-19 test results must have been received within three days before the transfer, and tests results often take longer than that. If an inmate has to leave a facility for a test, that restarts the requirement of 14 days of quarantine as well.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 9:16 am

Comments

The vast, vast majority of IDOC admissions come from Cook County and Sheriff Dart has done a ton of testing for detainees. It’d be interesting to see if he has the same concerns as the ISA.

Comment by Anon E Moose Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 9:19 am
To be more specific, inmates from Cook County make up 46.1% of the IDOC population. The next closest is Winnebago County with a mere 2.9%.

Comment by Anon E Moose Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 9:23 am
The ex-sheriff of Lake County — currently the GOP’s U.S. Senate candidate — is pretty wound-up too, e.g. “Death will eventually come for everyone.”

https://twitter.com/ElectMarkCurran/status/1288598370546855943

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 9:36 am
If only the state had an empty correctional facility designed to isolate inmates that could be used to hold transfers for 14 days before sending them on to their final destination.

Comment by the Patriot Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 9:42 am
Are we talking about the association that has many of it’s members refusing to help enforce pandemic restrictions? If you’re not helping, you’re hurting.

Comment by Norseman Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 9:50 am
Nobody is forcing them to be a sheriff.

Sorry, but I’ve lost all respect for the sheriffs associations after they refused to get a handle on their members openly flaunting how they would not enforce any orders related to a global pandemic.

When are we going to get adults who know how to present and work to enact solutions to problems, instead of complaining about problems for political points?

Comment by TheInvisibleMan Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 10:32 am
=== after they refused to get a handle on their members===

Heck, they were encouraging it.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 10:37 am
==Nobody is forcing them to be a sheriff.==

Can I frame this for the upcoming teachers strikes?

Comment by City Zen Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 10:47 am
=== openly flaunting how they would not enforce any orders related to a global pandemic ===

Please enlighten me under what law sheriff’s could enforce? If someone refuses to wear a mask, please reference what criminal statute a sheriff could have arrested said person for? I’m waiting…

Comment by DeputyDog Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 11:23 am
===what criminal statute===

Trespassing.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 11:27 am
===Trespassing.===

Yes, absolutely if a business tells someone to leave for not wearing a mask and the person refuses. I’m not asking that.

I’m asking for someone to tell me what statute can be enforced for simply not wearing the mask… I’ll help you, there isn’t one.

Comment by DeputyDog Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 11:29 am
===there isn’t one===

So? The problem isn’t people being in their homes unmasked. The problem is people who trespass on private property and that is not being enforced.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 11:33 am
The testing is one thing it has to be faster turnaround.

The isolation, well, that should always have been planned in for jails, this isn’t the only sickness we’ll ever see (I mean, didn’t these jails exist during polio or small pox or measles,…). I can’t imagine they all wouldn’t have an infirmary. We’re not talking Andy Griffith, right?

Comment by cermak_rd Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 11:39 am
===people who trespass on private property===

I’m aware of businesses all over the state you can enter without a mask and they aren’t asking people to leave. So your trespassing argument doesn’t hold any weight. I say again, there’s no statute that law enforcement can enforce on people not wearing masks.

Trespassing is a different story and can be enforced anytime a business asks someone to leave and they don’t.

Comment by DeputyDog Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 11:49 am
=== I can’t imagine they all wouldn’t have an infirmary. We’re not talking Andy Griffith, right?===

Jails all over the state don’t have an infirmary. State law says that DOC MUST take inmates sentenced. Nothing in law gives them the right to order COVID tests from the sheriff nor unfeasible quarantines. These inmates have been in jail for months if not over a year. If there are no COVID cases in the jail, why in the world do they need quarantined and/or tested. DOC should quarantine them. They have closed facilities they could re-open and use them as temporary receiving facilities and quarantine housing.

Comment by DeputyDog Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 12:07 pm
If they’ve been at the jail for months then why not keep them where they are for a couple more weeks. Or are the jails getting crowded?

The problem to me with using an empty facility is that now you are taking people from different regions and unknown Covid status (if they are not tested before leaving jail) and combining them. That’s sure to cause outbreaks in the receiving facility.

Sheriff Dart seems to have done a good job at Cook County (so well he got called out by the CDC for it) so it is possible.

Comment by cermak_rd Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 2:12 pm
== The testing is one thing it has to be faster turnaround. ==

The private sector seems to be fairly fast. I had to get a test last Sunday for elective surgery; turnaround time was 48 hrs.

But then, in the recovery room, I was chatting with the nurse and he said that test was only 60 some percent accurate on positives. I don’t know if that is true or not. So who knows what a both quick and accurate test is?

Comment by RNUG Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 5:30 pm
Cook County Sheriff Dart is doing such a good job? Why…? because he puts an ankle bracelet,(a laughing joke to most criminals), on and lets them out? Thank Goodness most responsible Sheriff’s have the common sense not to release criminals back on the streets. Is there an increased risk to a prisoners safety behind bars due to covid? sure, along with a lot of other increased risks. I have the solution… don’t become a criminal.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 9:40 pm