Sex offenders are among inmates released due to coronavirus pandemic, NY jail says

A New York jail says sex offenders are among the inmates who have been released during the coronavirus pandemic.

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The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said 51 inmates from the county jail were released on Saturday at the direction of the New York State Division of Parole.

Jails and prisons across the country have been releasing thousands of inmates amid fears that the coronavirus could spread quickly through the facilities.

None of the released Monroe County inmates had “flu-like symptoms,” the sheriff’s office said.

Eight of the inmates were registered sex offenders, 12 were “transient population,” 10 were released with electronic monitoring devices, and one was taken to a hospital for a mental health evaluation.

Some inmates, including four registered sex offenders, are staying at a Holiday Inn Express, WIVB4 reported. Three of the inmates are “level 3 sex offenders” and are considered most likely to re-offend, according to the outlet. The three inmates were reportedly convicted for “the rape of minors.”

“We weren’t told by anyone,” Patrick Phelan, the Greece chief of police, told WIVB4. “I think good practice would be if you’re going to release convicted felons, some of them very violent, some of those level 3 sex offenders, you might want to give law enforcement the heads up.”

The N.Y. Department of Corrections and Community Services said in a statement, according to WIVB4: “This significant action is being taken in response to a growing number of COVID-19 cases in local jails over the past few days and weeks. Our top priority remains the public health and safety of New Yorkers during this global public health emergency and this measure will further protect a vulnerable population from contracting and transmitting this infectious disease.”

This story was originally published March 30, 2020 at 1:02 PM with the headline "Sex offenders are among inmates released due to coronavirus pandemic, NY jail says."