Yesterday U.S. Attorney General Barr released guidelines to the federal Bureau of Prisons to increase the use of home confinement for at-risk prisoners. As leading justice reform organization Families Against Mandatory Minimums notes, this is simply not enough to meet the moment of this global crisis which could have catastrophic consequences for our incarcerated communities.

"The announcement comes after calls from criminal justice advocacy groups to reduce prison populations nationwide in order to avoid what could be a disastrous and dangerous spread of the virus.  Kevin Ring, the president of Families against Mandatory Minimums, told CBS News his concern is that inmates will die unnecessarily if the bureau does not take 'bolder' actions.  Ring says officials should consider other avenues like compassionate release.  'I don't think it's enough,' Ring said.  'I think it's a small step in the right direction, but I think it's a peacetime move in a time of war.'"

While this is a step in the right direction by the federal government, the use of compassionate release and emergency clemency procedures must be put in place to reduce our prison populations and protect our most vulnerable communities.

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