Graphing COVID cases in the Bureau of Prisons

Starting in March 2020, students in the Federal Criminal Defense Clinic have been involved in efforts to obtain compassionate release for numerous individuals who are at risk of infection or death as a result of the pandemic.

As part of that effort, since April 7, 2020, the Clinic has been graphing the Bureau of Prisons’ daily infection-rate data, resulting in the "Top BOP Death Traps Chart," or a graph that shows the most dangerous BOP's facilities as measured by COVID-19 cases.

The Clinic updates the graph regularly, and the most recent version of the graph (and the underlying data), can be accessed here at: COVID Cases By Institution (2/12/21).

The previous version of the graph (4/7/20 - 11/30/20), can be access here at: COVID Cases By Institution (up to 11-30-20) 

People who have died in federal custody

The Federal Criminal Defense Clinic has also tracked and recorded the names of the 237 people the BOP has reported have died from COVID while in federal custody. A list and a bit about each of those people (taking inspiration from the NYT) can be found here: They Are Human Too (2/14/21).

A list of who died after or while seeking compassionate release can be found here: List of Compassionate Release Attempts (2/17/21). This list is updated and refined as additional information becomes available. 

Law students fight for compassionate release

The law students helping these individuals are directed by Alison Guernsey,  the director of the Federal Criminal Defense Clinic, a clinical associate professor, and a former assistant federal public defender. For Professor Guernsey, “It is impossible to spend a career representing people you know should have another shot at life outside of prison walls and not see litigating compassionate release motions as both a professional and deeply personal obligation.”

Read more about their work and watch the story of Daniel Brown.