TCAC calls for release of Leon County prisoners due to COVID-19

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — The Tallahassee Community Action Committee is calling for bail eligible inmates in the Leon County Detention Facility to be released.

"We knew that once this disease got into jails it would be a petri dish for people," said Saskiya Fagan.

For Fagan Saturday's caravan to release inmates at the Leon County Sheriff's Office was personal.

Fagan and members of the Tallahassee Community Action Committee say all bail eligible inmates in county detention facilities should be released.

Especially those with compromised immune systems and the elderly.

"I personally know three people in there right now ages 16,18 and 19 and the 18 year old just tested positive for COVID-19," Fagan said.

As of Thursday, the sheriff's office says at least 13 inmates have tested positive for coronavirus out of the 400 test given.

The sheriff's office says any inmate who is suspected of having the virus and others in their pod will be moved to a quarantine pod where they'll be put in separate cells.

If an inmate's test comes back negative they can return back with other inmates.

People who test positive are monitored by health care workers... in the worst case they will be taken to the hospital.

TCAC says they want to see more.

"An improvement in the conditions of these prisons we want face masks for every prisoner. We want real sanitization and the ability to see what the prisoners living conditions are like, "Delilah Pierre said.

The sheriffs office says it's getting 300 thousand masks to give to inmates. As for any release, it's out of the sheriff's office hands and would have to go through the state attorney.

If releases are not an option Delilah Pierre says the group wants to make sure inmates are protected.

"We want to do our best to give them the sanitation they need."