Suffolk DA Working To Release Low-Risk 'Vulnerable' Prisoners

BOSTON — Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins is working to release "vulnerable" low-risk prisoners from custody to help decrease the crowded prison population during the outbreak of the new coronavirus.

"[Rollins] is working to make sure that individuals held in custody who are vulnerable because of their health, age, socio-economic status, or circumstances, but pose no meaningful risk to public safety are released from custody," the DA's office said in a statement

"There will be circumstances where the risk to public safety outweighs any justification for release," the statement continued. "However, we are committed to working with the criminal defense bar in identifying those individuals whose release we deem urgent and necessary for public health reasons."

Law enforcement officials have said social distancing is nearly impossible among the incarcerated. Rollins said she's taking the measure to keep COVID-19 from spreading among prisoners, "the overwhelming majority of which will return to ourcommunities at some point in the future."