#JustUs

Emergencies Happen. Plans Save Lives.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted a matter of life and death in the nation’s prisons and jails: the lack of emergency management plans in case of public health, environmental, and other crises, such as extreme heat.

In response, JLUSA launched the #JustUs Campaign — a nationwide call for policymakers to decarcerate the United States by adopting a series of recommendations which were developed in collaboration with formerly incarcerated individuals, along with legal and public health experts.

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One positive outcome of the #JustUs Campaign has been the re-introduction of federal legislation by U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Cory Booker (D-NJ). 

The Correctional Facility Disaster Preparedness Act would require the Bureau of Prisons to take measures to ensure the health and safety of people in federal prisons during disasters declared by the President.

The Correctional Facility Disaster Preparedness Act

Here are some exciting components of the legislation:

  • The U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) would have to create an annual summary report recording “the ability of the Bureau of Prisons and any existing contract prison to uphold the health, safety, and civil rights of the correctional population” during disasters. The report would explain things like:
    • Disaster damage to staff, facility residents, and property
    • The facilities’ ability to provide for residents (food, shelter, medical care, etc.)
    • Guidance and data on the use of early release/home confinement for eligible facility residents (methods for reducing the facilities’ populations to make them more manageable and safe)
    • The availability of visitation with legal counsel and visitors, disability accommodations, educational programs, and work programs
    • Inmate grievances
  • The report will also include corrective actions by the BOP to update emergency preparedness plans, a timeline to implement them, and legislative recommendations to Congress for improving emergency preparedness plans on a federal level.
  • Officials responsible for carrying out these plans would be appointed.
  • The Advisory Board overseeing the National Institute of Corrections would be expanded to include the expertise of a person who has been directly involved with the justice system, a person with extensive experience in emergency response/management, and a person with a background in public health and communicable diseases.
  • The National Institute of Corrections would have to hold a public hearing on how these goals would be achieved within one year of the bill’s enactment. 

JLUSA will continue to advocate for the adoption of the #JustUs policy recommendations at the federal, state, and local levels until adequate emergency management plans are in place in every correctional facility.  The safety and dignity  of incarcerated people will not only be a consideration in times of emergency, but at all times.

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Live with #JustUs

Throughout the year, JLUSA has hosted several livestreams discussing the #JustUs campaign, centering around topics such as health inequity toward incarcerated individuals, person-first language, the impact of incarceration on family members, and many more.

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Thank you to our Subject Matter Experts and 1200+ Signatories

Join Our Letter Campaign

or text JUSTUS to 55872 (JLUSA)

Sign up to receive updates about the #JustUs Campaign.  Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency varies.
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