>>> RELEASE SOME INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS AS A SAFETY
PRECAUTION.
THAT'S A MOVE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS ANDREA HARRINGTON IN THE
BERKSHIRES AND DAVID SULLIVAN IN THE NORTHWESTERN REGION
RECENTLY CALLED FOR AS THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD GRAPPLE TO
DECREASE THE CASES OF COVID-19.
HAMPDEN COUNTY SHERIFF NICHOLAS COCCHI TOLD US THE IDEA IS QUOTE
"ILL ADVISED."
HE SAID THAT INMATES ARE IN A CONTROLLED AND SAFE ENVIRONMENT
AND NEED TO REMAIN THERE FOR THEIR WELLBEING.
AND WHILE THAT PROPOSED CHANGE FROM D.A.'S IS NOT WELCOMED BY
COCCHI, HE SPOKE WITH ME ABOUT A NUMBER OF OTHER CHANGES TO THE
COUNTY'S CORRECTIONS SYSTEM BECAUSE OF THIS NEW CORONAVIRUS.
>> SOME OF THE CHANGES WE'VE MADE THAT HAVE IMMEDIATELY
IMPACTED OUR OFFENDER POPULATION ARE THE RESTRICTION OF ALL
PERSONAL VISITS AND I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO DO SO BECAUSE
WE'RE TRYING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY STAY
SAFE, BUT ALSO KEEP THE ENVIRONMENT INSIDE OF OUR WALLS
SAFE.
AND HEALTHY.
BECAUSE AS OF RIGHT NOW, IT'S PROBABLY THE SAFEST PLACE YOU
CAN BE.
WE HAVE NO KNOWN CASES OF ANY ONE OF OUR FOUR FACILITIES THAT
IS EVEN EXHIBITING THE COVID-19 VIRUS SYMPTOMS FROM AN INMATE
POPULATION STANDPOINT.
AND THEN FROM A STAFFING PERSPECTIVE, WE'RE DOING STAFF
TESTING BEFORE EVERY PERSON COMES TO WORK AND WE'RE ASKING A
SERIES OF QUESTIONS.
WE'RE TAKING THEIR TEMPERATURE.
AND IF WE FEEL THEY'VE EXHIBITED TWO OR MORE OF THE SYMPTOMS,
WE'RE SENDING THEM HOME TO GO INTO A PRECAUTIONARY PROTOCOL
BEFORE THEY CAN COME BACK TO WORK.
SO WE'VE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB OF CONTROLLING EVERY ENTRY AND
EXIT POINT OF THE FACILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CONTROLLING
WHO GOES IN AND IF THEY'RE GOING IN, THEY'RE IN THE BEST POSSIBLE
HEALTH POSITION THEY CAN BE IN TO GO IN AND PROVIDE SERVICES.
>> NOW, JUST TO BE CLEAR WHEN YOU SAID STAFF TESTING, YOU MEAN
THAT'S SORT OF A SYSTEM THAT YOU HAVE DETERMINED, NOT TESTING FOR
COVID-19, CORRECT?
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
SO WE'RE DOING STAFF QUESTIONING AND WE CALL IT SCREENINGS THAT
COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD YOU TO A POTENTIAL COVID-19 SCENARIO.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, DO YOU CURRENTLY HAVE A SORE THROAT?
DO YOU HAVE A COUGH?
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER CONDITION THAT IS CONTRIBUTING TO A COUGH
OR A SORE THROAT?
IF THE SYMPTOMS THAT THEY RESPONDED TO POSITIVELY
DISSIPATE WE'LL HAVE THEM COME BACK, BE SCREENED AGAIN BY OUR
MEDICAL STAFF AND THEY CAN COME TO WORK.
IF THE SYMPTOMS GET WORSE, THEY'RE INSTRUCTED TO GO TO
THEIR PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN AND FROM THERE, WE WILL SEEK FURTHER
MEDICAL ASSESSMENTS AND DIALOGUE AS TO WHERE THEY ARE AND WHEN
THEY WILL BE ALLOWED BACK TO WORK.
>> ARE YOU CONDUCTING SIMILAR SCREENINGS OF THE INMATE
POPULATIONS AS WELL?
>> THE EXACT SCREENING PROCESS IS IN PLACE FOR ANY NEW PERSON
THAT COMES INTO OUR FACILITY.
AND JUST SO EVERYBODY KNOWS, IF YOU COME INTO OUR FACILITY AS OF
A WEEK AND A HALF AGO, YOU'RE GOING INTO SPECIALIZED UNITS
THAT DO NOT COMMINGLE WITH THE PRE-EXISTING POPULATION THAT WAS
HERE.
SO WE HAVE A VERY GOOD HANDLE ON THE SAFETY AND MORE IMPORTANTLY
THE HEALTH WELLNESS OF OUR OFFENDERS THAT HAVE BEEN HERE
FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
SO YES, WE'RE PROVIDING THE TESTING AND IF SOMEBODY TESTS OR
SHOULD I SAY IF ANYBODY SCREENS POSITIVE ON SOME OF THESE
SYMPTOMS WE PUT THEM INTO A PRECAUTIONARY MEDICAL ISOLATION.
>> CIRCLING BACK TO THE VISITATION CHANGES, AS I
UNDERSTAND IT THAT'S A 60-DAY CHANGE AND CLERGY AND ATTORNEYS
ARE STILL ALLOWED TO COME IN AND HAVE VISITATION RIGHTS, IS THAT
CORRECT?
>> THAT IS TRUE.
FOR PROFESSIONAL VISITS WE ARE STILL ACCEPTING ATTORNEYS AND
CLERGY.
HOWEVER, WHEN THEY COME IN THEY WILL BE MASKED TO PROTECT THE
POPULATION AND TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND TO PROTECT THE
STAFF.
>> DURING THE CHANGE IN THE VISITATION, DO YOU THINK THAT
YOU SHOULD ADJUST THE POLICY FOR PHONE CALLS?
AS I UNDERSTAND IT THERE WAS A BILL FILED IN JANUARY TO HAVE --
THAT WOULD CHANGE THE CURRENT LAW AROUND PHONE CALLS AND MAKE
PHONE CALLS FREE FOR INMATES.
SHOULD THOSE PHONE CALLS BE MADE FREE TEMPORARILY WHILE THIS IS
GOING ON SINCE THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO VISITORS OR THE
OUTSIDE WORLD IN THAT WAY?
>> WELL, WHAT WE DID IS WE TOOK THE VISITING HOURS THAT ANY
PARTICULAR OFFENDER WOULD HAVE WHICH TOTALS TWO HOURS A WEEK,
AND SINCE THEY'VE LOST THAT CONTACT FOR TWO HOURS WITH THEIR
LOVED ONES OOR THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS OR FRIENDS, WE HAVE
GIVEN THEM TWO FREE HOURS OF PHONE CALLS EACH WEEK.
>> YOU SAID EARLIER NO KNOWN CASES OF COVID-19 THAT YOU'RE
AWARE OF, BUT I UNDERSTAND FROM A RELEASE FROM YOUR OFFENSE LAST
WEEK THERE WAS ONE PERSON WHO DID HAVE SOME OF THOSE SYMPTOMS
THAT ARE RELATED TO COVID-19, BUT COULD ALSO BE A COLD, BUT AS
I UNDERSTAND IT YOU TOOK THE STEPS TO QUARANTINE THAT
INDIVIDUAL, YOU REACHED OUT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
AND THE DPH DECLINED TO TEST THAT PERSON.
WERE YOU SURPRISED?
>> WAS I SURPRISED THEY DECLINED TO TEST?
I WAS A LITTLE BIT BUT AS I GOT MORE EDUCATED IN THE PROCESS,
THE INDIVIDUAL THAT WE HAD -- AND AGAIN, IT'S PREVENTIVE
PROTOCOL MEASURES THAT WE HAD IN OUR MEDICAL RESTRICTIVE AREA.
THE SYMPTOMS WERE QUICKLY SUBSIDING.
THE INDIVIDUAL WAS RELEASED FROM THAT PROTOCOL FAIRLY QUICKLY AND
THE PERSON IS ACTUALLY NOT EVEN HERE ANYMORE.
THEY WENT BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.
SO I WAS SURPRISED WHEN I FIRST FOUND OUT THEY WOULDN'T TEST,
BUT KNOWING HOW HARD IT IS TO GET THE TESTING AGENT AND TO GET
A TEST DONE, I CAN SEE WHERE THEY'RE SCREENING THEM EXTREMELY
CLOSELY AND THEY'RE SCREENING HOW MANY CASES, AND THIS PERSON
REALLY DIDN'T FIT THE SCRIPT OF HAVING SOMEBODY BE IMMINENT OF
BEING TESTED FOR COVID-19.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL HAS SUGGESTED
THAT PREGNANT WOMEN, PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXACERBATING HEALTH
CONDITIONS, SUCH AS ASTHMA, THINGS LIKE THAT COULD MAKE THEM
MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO COVID-19, EVEN PEOPLE OVER THE AGE OF 50,
THE CDC HAS RECOMMENDED THESE PEOPLE COULD BE HIGH RISK.
WHAT, IF ANYTHING, ARE YOU DOING TO ADDRESS THIS POPULATION?
>> AS THE GOVERNOR HAS PUT OUT ORDERS FOR NON-ESSENTIAL STAFF
NOT TO COME TO WORK.
ANYBODY WHO FALLS INTO A CATEGORY THAT HAVE COMPROMISED
IMMUNE SYSTEMS, ARE OF THE AGE OF SOMEBODY WHO COULD BE IN A
HIGH RISK SCENARIO, WE HAVE THEM AT HOME RIGHT NOW.
AS FAR AS THE OFFENDER POPULATION GOES, RIGHT NOW, OUR
FACILITY IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE SAFEST PLACES YOU CAN BE.
IT'S CLEAN, WE HAVE A VERY HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT IN HERE
RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE MEDICAL PERSONNEL THAT ARE WITHIN NOT MINUTES, BUT
SECONDS FROM RESPONING TO ANY EMERGENCY THAT'S NEEDED.
SO WE FEEL RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A GREAT HANDLE ON THE LEVEL OF
CARE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING FOR OUR OFFENDER POPULATION.
I WILL SAY ANYBODY WHO HAS SOMEBODY WHO'S DOING TIME OR
INCARCERATED, THEY SHOULD BE CONFIDENT KNOWING THAT THEIR
LOVED ONES ARE GETTING THE BEST HEALTHCARE THEY COULD BE GETTING
RIGHT NOW.
>> WHAT DO SUPPLIES LOOK LIKE THERE FOR YOU NOT ONLY FOR
STAFF, BUT ALSO FOR INMATES WHETHER THAT'S SOAP OR
SANITIZING PRODUCTS?
DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH?
>> AS OF RIGHT NOW, WE ARE IN GOOD SHAPE WHEN IT COMES TO
FOOD, RESOURCES, TOILET PAPER, SANITIZER AND THE THINGS LIKE
THAT.
WE ARE PROPERLY PREPARED AS A FACILITY AND AS AN AGENCY WHO
HAS THE CARE AND RESPONSIBILITY OF OVER 1,000 PEOPLE.
WE NEVER TAKE THAT RESPONSIBILITY LIGHTLY SO WE ARE
PROPERLY STOCKED NOW.
IF THIS CONTINUES MORE THAN 40 OR 50 DAYS, THAT COULD PUT US IN
A POSITION WHERE WE ARE NOW GOING TO BECOME SCARCE IN
RESOURCES, BUT WE'RE ALREADY WORKING ON GETTING IN
REPLACEMENTS FOR WHAT WE'RE USING NOW.
>> HAVE YOU BEEN SPEAKING WITH LOCAL HOSPITALS OR MEDICAL
OFFICIALS TO TALK ABOUT A PLAN THAT IF SOMEONE IN YOUR CARE
DOES COME DOWN WITH COVID-19, A PROTOCOL FOR TRANSFERRING THEM
OR GETTING THEM THE TREATMENT THAT THEY NEED?
>> WE'RE ALWAYS IN CONTACT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
DAILY THROUGH OUR MEDICAL STAFF.
I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH SOME LEADERSHIP IN OUR LOCAL
HOSPITALS.
THEY'RE DOING A TREMENDOUS JOB.
IF WE HAD SOMEBODY BECOME POSITIVE WITH COVID-19, WHETHER
IT BE STAFF OR INMATES, WE DO HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE AND QUITE
FRANKLY, THE PLAN IS NOT MUCH DIFFERENT DEPENDING ON THEIR
HEALTH THAN IT WOULD BE IF THEY HAD THE FLU.
SO WE ARE VERY WELL EQUIPPED TO HANDLE IT, TO TAKE CARE OF IT,
TO MAKE SURE WE DO OUR BEST JOB NOT TO HAVE IT SPREAD.
AND AGAIN, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE TIME TO TALK TO YOU BECAUSE
I REALLY WANT TO PUT PEOPLE AT EASE WHEN IT COMES TO HOW IS THE
CLIMATE INSIDE THE FACILITY?
THE CLIMATE IS EXCELLENT.
THE HEALTH OF OUR OFFENDERS IS EXCELLENT.
WHERE THE CONCERN NEEDS TO BE IS EXERCISING SOCIAL DISTANCING IN
THE COMMUNITY AND TO EXERCISE ALL THE GOVERNORS AND THE
HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS' ORDERS ON WHAT TO DO TO SLOW DOWN THE
SPREAD OF THE VIRUS.
IF WE DO THAT, WE'RE DOING OUR COMMUNITY A HUGE SERVICE.
IF WE DON'T DO IT, WE'RE GOING TO SEE THE NEED FOR HOSPITAL
BEDS AND RESOURCES GO ABOVE WHAT THE COMMUNITY PROVIDERS CAN TAKE
CARE OF. AND THAT'S WHERE IT BECOMES
CRITICAL.
>> THE PIECE ABOUT PREVENTIVE MEDICINE, IS THAT BEING PAUSED
RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A ROUTINE PHYSICAL AS
IT IS FOR PEOPLE HERE IN DAILY LIFE?
>> OUR PREVENTABLE AND MEDICINE AND NUMBER OF NURSING VISITS AND
SICK VISITS ARE GOING ON AS NORMAL.
WE HAVE NOT ALTERED OUR OPERATIONS ONE BIT OTHER THAN
STOPPING PEOPLE FROM THE OUTSIDE COMING IN BECAUSE WE DO NOT WANT
TO INFECT THE CLIMATE THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, THE HEALTHY
CLIMATE WE HAVE NOW SO OTHER THAN THAT, MEDICAL RESOURCES AND
DOCTOR VISITS AND NURSE VISITS AND SICK CALL VISITS AND
MEDICATIONS, ALL THAT IS CONTINUING, AS ALWAYS.
>> THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS MEANT CHANGED TO THE DAILY LIVES
OF ALL OF US.
HOMES HAVE BECOME A LOT BUSIER WITH MANY ADULTS WORKING FROM
HOME AND KIDS OUT OF SCHOOL.
TO HELP STOP THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS, NUMEROUS EVENTS
REGIONALLY AND NATIONALLY HAVE BEEN CANCELED AND THE PUBLIC IS
BEING ASKED TO STAY HOME WHENEVER POSSIBLE.
WITH SO MUCH CHANGE COME MANY QUESTIONS AND WE WANT TO HEAR
YOURS.
MAYBE THEY'RE MEDICAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE NEW CORONAVIRUS OR
PERHAPS YOU WANT A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE WAY LOCAL,
STATE OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS HAVE RESPONDED.
CALL US AND LEAVE US A MENTIONED WITH YOUR QUESTION OR SEND US
YOUR QUESTIONS VIA FACEBOOK, E-MAIL OR TWITTER.
IT'S ONE WAY WE CAN CONTINUE TO STAY CONNECTED DURING THIS TIME
OF SOCIAL DISTANCING AND WE'LL USE YOUR QUESTIONS TO KEEP YOU
BETTER INFORMED.
MEANWHILE, MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENTS CAN CALL 2-1-1 AT ANY
TIME FOR REALTIME COVID-19 INFORMATION, RESOURCES, AND
REFERRALS IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES.
YOU CAN ALSO VISIT THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL'S WEBSITE AT
CDC.GOV TO FIND OUT MORE AS WELL AND IF TIME AWAY FROM WORK AND
SCHOOL HAS YOU FEELING WORRIED ABOUT YOUR MENTAL OR PHYSICAL
WELLBEING, PLEASE KNOW THAT HELP IS AVAILABLE.
SAFE LINK IS THERE FOR YOU IF YOU ARE BEING AFFECTED BY
DOMESTIC OR DATING VIOLENCE.
CALL 1877-785-2020 FOR HELP IN ENGLISH OR SPANISH.
DEAF OR HEARING IMPAIRED CAN CALL 1877-521-2601 AND THE
NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE IS THERE TO HELP ANYONE
IN EMOTIONAL CRISIS.
CALL 82738255.
FOR SPANISH LANGUAGE SPEAKERS THAT'S 866-628-9454 AND FOR THE
DEAF OR HEARING IMPAIRED, 87994889.
ALL OF US AT "CONNECTING POINT" ARE COMMITTED TO BRINGING YOU
THOUGHTFUL, IN-DEPTH COVERAGE, FACTS, AND INFORMATION DURING
THIS UNCERTAIN TIME.
PLEASE, CONTINUE TO CONNECT WITH US.
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