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Judge backs Danbury FCI inmates in COVID-19 suit, orders warden to move on release requests

A federal judge is backing inmates at Danbury FCI who claimed in a class action lawsuit that they are being confined in unconstitutionally dangerous conditions because of coronavirus. 

U.S. District Judge Michael Shea issued a 74-page order requiring the prison administration, within two weeks, to identify inmates with health conditions that place them at risk for COVID-19 complications.  The order also requires FCI Danbury to begin aggressively evaluating requests by prisoners for transfer to home confinement or compassionate release. 

The judge refers to the “apparent failure” of FCI Danbury  to carry out an April 3rd memo by U.S. Attorney General William Barr ordering the facility and others to "maximize” emergency authority granted by Congress to release inmates to home confinement.  Barr referred specifically to FCI Danbury and two other prisons particularly hard hit by the virus.

The inmates claimed that nearly four dozen prisoners and 39 staff members tested positive for COVID-19, and that one inmate died.  Danbury FCI claims that positive diagnoses has since dropped to five and say there is proper and adequate testing.

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Dave Rinelli

Local Headlines