Coronavirus Information, Support, & Resources.
Here is a select list of organizations that can offer support, resources, news, and policy updates on the coronavirus and COVID-19.
Note: If you are at risk of or currently experiencing violence while isolating in your home, help is available. The Oregon Coalition against Domestic and Sexual Violence and the Oregon Sexual Assault Task Force have state and national resources listed on their websites for survivors of stalking, sexual violence, intimate partner violence, human trafficking, and child abuse.
COVID AND VACCINE INFORMATION SHEET
Four national community leaders hosted a virtual town hall on January 9, 2021, for families of incarcerated loved ones. The organizations are Black and Pink Massachusetts, National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls, Deeper Than Water Coalition, and Families for Justice as Healing.
The purpose of the town hall was to provide information about COVID 19 and the vaccine(s). The organizations decided to do this as a result of the overwhelming number of calls and emails they received from families members and incarcerated people within Massachusetts and federal prisons who are in need of information in order to make more informed decisions about taking the COVID vaccine. This FAQ Fact Sheet came about as a result of that meeting.
Oregon Youth Authority Coronavirus Webpage
Policies and procedures are quickly changing at the Oregon Youth Authority (OYA) in an effort to prevent the pandemic from entering the facilities. The Oregon Youth Authority has been updating this webpage with information, policies, and news. They have also been sharing the same content on social media platforms, including on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
One restriction is that youth in Oregon prisons are currently not allowed to be visited by family, friends, and legal advisors. These connections are vital for youth and need to be sustained during the pandemic, and we have been advocating for increased communication that offsets this barrier.
Oregon Department of Corrections coronavirus webpage
Oregon Department of Corrections are changing quickly in an effort to prevent the pandemic from entering the facilities, and they have been updating their website information as it becomes available. The page’s Frequently Asked Questions section has responses to health and logistical questions about things like use of masks, process for testing, and care for particularly vulnerable people.
There are currently visitation restrictions by family, friends, and legal advisors. These connections are vital and need to be sustained during the pandemic, and we have been advocating for increased communication that offsets this barrier.
Oregon Coalition against Domestic and Sexual Violence (OCADSV) and
Oregon Sexual Assault Task Force (SATF)
Advocates for survivors of stalking, sexual violence, intimate partner violence, human trafficking, and child abuse are available statewide and are delivering support for people who feel unsafe. Both OCADSV and SATF have regularly updated webpages with links to resources that can help people in Oregon and nationally.
Coronavirus Guidance for the Criminal and Immigration Legal Systems
Vera and Community Oriented Correctional Health Services have created a series of fact sheets to guide people working in the criminal and immigration legal systems. Adopting the recommendations in these documents will help protect and care for the millions of vulnerable people who make contact with, and the staff who work for, the nation’s courts, police departments, prisons, jails, and detention centers.
Prison Policy Initiative
Prison Policy Initiative is tracking examples of state and local agencies taking meaningful steps to slow the spread of COVID-19 in jails and prisons across the country.
Coronavirus: A curated collection of links (from the Marshall Project)
The Marshall Project is collecting news clippings and other information about how COVID-19 is affecting justice-involved people across the nation.