COVID-19 Response: Behind the Walls

Episode 31 is all about jails and prisons during the pandemic, and it's packed. (Plus, Your NM Gov is airing weeknights at 8 p.m. on KUNM this week.)

We hear from:

Longtime criminal justice reporter Jeff Proctor from the Santa Fe Reporter and New Mexico In Depth Santa Fe Public Defender's Office attorney Jennifer Burrill, who contracted COVID Selinda Guerrero, a community organizer with Millions For Prisoners New Mexico Barron Jones, criminal justice advocate with the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico Matthew Coyte, lawyer and longtime advocate for limiting solitary confinement in the state Cabinet Secretary Alisha Tafoya Lucero from the state's Department of Corrections Cabinet Secretary Brian Blalock from the Children Youth and Families Department



And a news update: An inmate at the Bernalillo County jail tested positive for coronavirus on Sunday, according to KRQE. When he entered the jail, he didn't show symptoms, but his mom was hospitalized and tested positive. He's been isolated in the jail, and the areas he was in have been quarantined.

Related articles:

Authorities squash Western New Mexico prison riot (Durango Herald) An interview with Santa Fe Public Defender Jennifer Burrill who's been diagnosed with COVID-19 (Santa Fe Reporter) Inmates Vulnerable to Coronavirus (Albuquerque Journal) COVID-19 updates from around the NM criminal justice system (New Mexico In Depth) Legal Threat Over Prison COVID-19 Potential (Santa Fe Reporter)

We're keeping a complete list of the resources and volunteer opportunities that we find for each episode here.  For today, here's what we have:

Barron Jones from the ACLU: bjones@aclu-nm.org People in prison or jail—or their families—can reach out to Millions For Prisoners New Mexico through Facebook or by emailing: millionsforprisonersnm@gmail.com