Correctional System’s Response to the Coronavirus Pandemic and Its Implications for Prison Reform in China

Abstract

Large outbreaks of coronavirus infections occurred in several prisons in China in February 2020. Since then, the authorities on the national and local levels have introduced a series of measures to prevent more COVID-19 infections in correctional institutions. This article reviews those strategies and explores their ties to past prison reforms and their potential influences on future directions. First, it provides an overview of the changes in prison management and operation that foreshadowed some of China's approaches to COVID-19 in the prison system. Second, it examines the strategies undertaken by the prison system to stop the spread of COVID-19. Finally, the article discusses the implications of the COVID-19 response for prison reforms and the challenges the Chinese prison system faces in its continuous efforts to contain COVID-19.

The Risk of COVID-19 Infection in Prisons and Prevention Strategies: A Systematic Review and a New Strategic Protocol of Prevention

“…Second, they saw that many outbreaks originated from the staff and spread among the prisoners, so they set up shift work for the staff. Third, they created several areas for confirmed cases and suspected COVID-19 cases [ 60 , 61 ]. In Australia, on the other hand, the government adopted several bans against the development of epidemic outbreaks: suspension of visits between prisoners; decrease in transfers between different prisons; temperature control for staff at the entrance; introduction of quarantine periods for new prisoners; and creation of isolation hubs for positive prisons [ 62 , 63 ].…”

Government actions for COVID-19 control and prevention in prisons: a scoping review

“…The most mentioned strategy was isolation and quarantine of confirmed cases as case management, with a significant difference in data recurrence between the AE and EDE countries analyzed. The transfer of COVID-19 cases to health services outside the prison was a strategy found in papers referring to the U.S. 8 , Italy (ITA) 9 , Sweden (SWE) 10 , Australia (AUS) 11 , Russia (RUS) 12 , CHN 13 , Turkey (TUR) 14 , Mexico (MEX) 15 , and Uganda 16 (Table 2).…”

“…Asymptomatic testing was considered when the mass testing strategy was mentioned. The strategy in prisoners was reported in Peru 19 , U.S. 20 , and CHN 13 , and in professionals or visitors in four countries, namely, the same three countries plus the United Kingdom 21 . The low testing routine was explained by the unavailability 2,12,16,19,[22][23][24][25][26][27][28] .…”

An Imperfect Storm: Identifying the Root Causes of COVID-19 Outbreaks in the World’s Largest Corrections Systems

“…We are skeptical of these data, but absent of alternative data sources and alternative estimates, we do not have an answer to the question: Are China's official reports accurate or prima facia evidence of a cover-up? However, it is worth noting that the review of China's response to the COVID-19 crisis by Li and Liu (2020) includes a discussion of why local government leaders and corrections administrators were initially reluctant to report community-level or prison-level infection and death data to the central government: fear of retaliation and job loss.…”