Though thousands of inmates across America are being granted early releases in wake of the coronavirus pandemic, there are many more stuck behind bars in fear of contracting the virus. REFORM Alliance, which counts Meek Mill and Jay-Z as partners, have announced their latest donation to prisons in the United States to keep both inmates and correctional officers safe. REFORM Alliance will be sending 10M surgical masks and more protective equipment to prisons and jails across the U.S.

The REFORM Alliance, a criminal justice reform organization partnered by Jay-Z and Meek Mill, is sending 100,000 masks to correctional facilities across the U.S.

Nicholas Hunt / Getty Images

“It’s a very vulnerable population,” chief advocacy officer at REFORM Jessica Jackson told CBS News. “We’re really worried about the number of people coming in and out of the facility, and the fact that the people living there might be sitting ducks during this pandemic.”

Prisons, especially in New York City, are at great risk to the coronavirus. 231 inmates and 223 staff members at New York City jails have tested positive for COVID-19, as of Thursday.

Jackson says officials in New York City and Tennessee are interested in helping inmates but lack the supplies to do so.

“Overwhelmingly the response was, ‘please provide the masks, we really need them.’ They want to protect the people working and living in the facilities,” Jackson said. “I think Rikers Island especially, they are very aware the virus has hit and so many lives are now at risk.”

“We’re still looking at jail and prison populations that are completely overcrowded to dangerous levels when you’re looking at a pandemic like this head-on,” she added. “This is a movement, but we need all of the voices we can get.”

Many prisons are releasing inmates to combat overcrowding issues.

You can read more about the issue on The REFORM Alliance’s website.

[Via]

As millions hoard toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and other essential items during this coronavirus quarantine, Meek Mill has stepped forward to remind the public that not everyone has the same resources available. As the world locks down and mandates are set in place for everyone to stay home and reduce contact with others through social distancing, Meek Mill took to Twitter to pen a message about recognizing those who fall into a different tax bracket.

Kevin Winter / Staff / Getty Images

"People where I’m from don’t have the money to run out and stock the fridge and stay in," the rapper tweeted. "When you from the #otherside you could literally watch the news and feel like they not even talking to you and your family so your mind frame will forever be with the streets!" Not everyone can afford to spend money on unnecessary items just because they're forced to stay home, so Meek believes politicians need to address how they plan to address the needs of that demographic.

Meanwhile, Meek's REFORM Alliance recently unveiled how they plan to assist inmates during this time of quarantine. The organization hopes to prevent the spread of coronavirus in prisons, especially because there are millions of men and women behind bars. REFORM Alliance's Chief Advocacy Officer Jessica Jackson told Complex, “People in prisons, jails, or under community supervision are more at risk of contracting and spreading the virus, given their age, underlying health conditions, and close contact to each other. Protecting these individuals from coronavirus is not just a moral obligation, but necessary to preserve the health and safety of our communities." Check out Meek Mill's tweet below.

Meek Mill‘s making strides with REFORM Alliance, an effort co-founded by himself, Jay-Z, Robert Kraft, and Michael Rubin. In the wake of Coronavirus, REFORM has shared plans in hopes to help out the U.S. governors to prevent the spread inside of prison. The S.A.F.E.R Plan is a policy recommendation, especially for those in at-risk communities, that they’ve presented asking for governors to suspend technical violation, probation visits, fines, and fees for the time being, especially since those locked up are far more susceptible to being exposed to COVID-19.

Opposing the idea of incarceration, they’re hoping the governors will find substitutes for incarceration while also releasing the elderly and vulnerable individuals to home confinement. They also want the governors to make sure there’s extra precaution for the staff at the prison while providing free medical treatment and tests.

“As our country takes measures to protect against coronavirus, we can’t afford to forget about the millions of people under the control of our criminal justice system,” REFORM Alliance’s chief advocacy officer Jessica Jackson told Complex. “People in prisons, jails, or under community supervision are more at risk of contracting and spreading the virus, given their age, underlying health conditions, and close contact to each other. Protecting these individuals from coronavirus is not just a moral obligation, but necessary to preserve the health and safety of our communities.” 

In addition, they’ve launched a petition which you can check out right here.