Essex County DA: No Greater Coronavirus Risk For Inmates

SALEM, MA — Inmates being held in Essex County are at no greater risk of contracting the coronavirus than if they were released because of multiple daily cleanings in the county's jail, according to Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett.

As a result, a spokeswoman for Blodgett told the Salem News his office will review requests for release over coronavirus concerns on a case-by-case basis. On Thursday, Suffolk County Dirstict Attorney Rachael Rollins said she was working with the defense bar to release low-risk inmates "we deem urgent and necessary for public health reasons." Blodgett, however, will leave it up to defense attorneys to file requests for release for low-risk inmates with coronavirus concerns.

"The district attorney did speak with the sheriff [Thursday]," Carrie Kimball, Blodgett's spokeswoman, told the newspaper. "Based on what he's told him, they're not at any greater risk inside than they would be on the outside."