COLUMBUS – More deaths are being reported in Ohio’s state and federal prisons.
Governor Mike DeWine announced Wednesday that two more state prison inmates have died from the coronavirus, bringing the overall total to three, all from the Pickaway Correctional Institution.
There are nearly 7,800 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 in all but one of Ohio’s 88 counties and 361 deaths.
DeWine announced, meanwhile today that he is approving the early release of 105 prison inmates in Ohio who had been scheduled to be released in the next 90 days to allow for increased social distancing between prison staff and inmates and slow the spread of the virus.
The state Correctional Institution Inspection Committee agreed with the recommendation of the director of the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction that a limited overcrowding emergency exists in Ohio’s prisons and recommended that Governor DeWine move forward with approving the early release of specific inmates.
Yesterday, the Correctional Institution Inspection Committee agreed with our limited overcrowding determination and recommended the early release of inmates who fit our specific criteria.
— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) April 15, 2020
The prisoners did not include anyone convicted of serious charges such as sex offenses, homicide-related offenses, kidnapping, abduction, ethnic intimidation, making terroristic threats, or domestic violence.
DeWine instructed prison officials to identify other inmates who may be eligible for early release as they reach a point where they are within 91 days of the end of their sentences.
Officials also say six federal inmates in eastern Ohio have now died from a COVID-19 outbreak. The deaths this week of three inmates from the Federal Correctional Institution in Elkton are on top of three last week.
Both inmates and staff have tested positive for the coronavirus at the prison that houses 2,400 low-level offenders.