Emerging
Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and produce early results that are consistent with the objectives of the activities and thus indicate effectiveness.

New York City Jails: COVID Discharge Policy, Data Transparency, and Reform

Miller, E., Martin, B. D., Topaz, C. M

Release Date:

Peer Review Study

Data Collection and Analysis
Tools Included
Outside U.S.
Clipboard

Data Collection and Reporting

Using public information, the researchers in this study constructed and analyzed a database of incarceration episodes in the city jail system, focusing on what happened March 23-29, 2020, immediately following the mayor’s order to release individuals incarcerated in New York City jails who were at high risk of contracting the disease and at low risk of committing criminal re-offense. They found that being discharged during the focus week was associated with a lower probability of readmission as compared to being discharged during the same calendar week in previous years. Furthermore, comparing the individuals discharged during the focus week of 2020 to those discharged during the same calendar week in previous years, they found that the former group was, on average, slightly older than the latter group, although the difference was not large. Additionally, the individuals in the former group had spent substantially longer in jail than those in the latter group.

Resource Details

Outcomes of Interest

Improve Data Infrastructure

Priority Population(s)

People Who Are Incarcerated

Setting(s) of Implementation

Correctional Facility

Geographic Area of Implementation

Urban

Implementation Period

2020