As one of only six prisons in the state with no positive COVID-19 tests among inmates or staff, the Ohio Reformatory for Women is hoping to stay that way. Members of the National Guard are working with the prison to build temporary housing structures for inmates and increase social distancing. Despite these precautions, those with incarcerated loved ones have indicated concern for their safety. (Journal-Tribune photos by Sam Dillon)
National Guard building temporary quarantine structures on grounds
While COVID-19 hasn’t officially reached the Ohio Reformatory for Women, skyrocketing numbers of cases at prisons throughout the state have concerned those with incarcerated loved ones and led local officials to take precautions.
As one of only six prisons in the state with no staff or inmates who have tested positive, ORW is trying to stay coronavirus-free.
ORW spokesperson and warden’s assistant Clara Golding-Kent said the prison is now coordinating with the Ohio National Guard for additional help.
Wednesday, she said the National Guard “is on the grounds now” to erect temporary housing structures within the institution.
Golding-Kent said only the minimum number of guardsmen and guardswomen needed will be on the grounds.
The temporary housing will be in the ball field area, Golding-Kent said. It will be powered by generators and will be heated and the inmates staying in them will still have showers, she noted.
She said adding the temporary structures will allow for more space between inmates.
“We’re just trying to help with our ladies’ social distancing,” Golding-Kent said.
Cohorts within the prison are also being kept to themselves, she said, “to eliminate cross-contamination” and prevent the potential spread of the virus.
According to Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction data, as of Wednesday three ORW inmates were in quarantine.
ODRC defines quarantine as a measure that “separates and restricts the movement of people who were exposed, or potentially exposed, to a contagious disease to see if they become sick.”
It varies from isolation, which separates sick people who are contagious from those who are not ill.
Four individuals at ORW are being tested as of Wednesday, according to ODRC.
An ODRC statement indicated all medical staff at state prisons have been “trained and informed about proper treatment” at the direction of the Ohio Department of Health.
If an inmate tests positive for COVID-19, ODRC stated “medical care will be provided in accordance with the protocols developed using the guidance of the Ohio Department of Health. This may include quarantine for them to prevent the spread.”
ODRC noted that symptoms may exist that are not caused by COVID-19, adding “sometimes the proper treatment is just rest and monitoring.”
The medical co-pay for incarcerated persons exhibiting flu-like symptoms was suspended, according to ODRC, in an attempt to encourage inmates to seek medical assistance when necessary.
“Please don’t be alarmed as this is a measure to stay COVID-19 free,” Golding-Kent wrote in a statement.
But, between the spread of the virus and rumors surrounding it, those with loved ones at ORW say they are concerned about the safety of inmates.
In July, LaRae Brand was indicted and charged with complicity to burglary and misuse of credit cards. She eventually pleaded guilty to the complicity charge and, because she had a misdemeanor record, according to her mother, the judge sentenced her to 30 months in prison.
BRAND
Last week, Brand was denied judicial release. Now her mother wants her released for her own safety.
Brand’s mother, Laura Stapleton, said that contrary to reports, there are many sick inmates at ORW. In fact, Stapleton said, her daughter’s cellmate is one of the sick.
“It’s probably corona, but she doesn’t know for sure because she hasn’t been tested, but she is just lying there shivering and all,” Stapleton said of the cellmate. “I am afraid for her. She said she is afraid.”
Stapleton said many of the inmates are scared and officials at the prison are not giving them any information. Stapleton knew the National Guard was at the prison, but didn’t know why.
She said the inmates had a wide variety of ideas about the National Guard’s presence, from working to replace staff that might quit or get sick to preparing to remove dead bodies.
“Would you want your daughter in there, lying beside someone who is sick?” Stapleton asked.
The mother said prison officials have modified schedules to keep inmates away from each other, but then have them sit together and remove their masks at times.
“We don’t know why they are doing that or what they are doing,” Stapleton said. “They know it is out there, they just aren’t reporting it probably because they want to get it under control first.”
Stapleton cited the rampant spread of COVID-19 at Marion Correctional Institution – which had 2,011 positive inmates and 157 positive staff as of Wednesday – and said ODRC doesn’t want another public relations problem.
She said she has already contacted her daughter’s attorney about using a program that allows some inmates to be released if they meet certain qualifications. Stapleton said one of the qualifications is that the sentencing judge approve.
“I was told she is denying all of the requests for COVID release,” Stapleton said.
Prisoners and their families are not the only ones concerned about an outbreak at the prison.
Marysville Fire Chief Jay Riley recently asked Marysville City Council for an additional $72,182 for supplies related to the COVID-19 outbreak. A portion of the money, $15,000, is actually going to be reimbursed to the general fund for equipment already purchased.
He said the city is doing, “a little doomsday prepping,” but said that if the virus hits ORW, the need for personal protection equipment would be immediate.
“We would need those supplies today,” Riley said. “We don’t have time to wait for those to come in.”
He said that once the supplies are on hand, they can be used, and the stockpile resupplied as they are used.
He recognized that some people might be opposed to spending city money to protect inmates and that some might say city responders should not go into the prison, “but that is not where we want to go as a city.”
The Union County Health Department is also working with local officials to develop a team to support congregate settings as more targeted testing at prisons is coming from the state. UCHD indicates there are now 17 cases of COVID-19 in the county, with four individuals who are actively ill and one currently hospitalized.