One policy response to the coronavirus pandemic has been the early release of thousands of criminals from custody across the U.S. The goal is to reduce infections in the confined quarters of jail or prison, and in some cases it’s warranted on compassionate grounds. But a new study in Health Affairs seeks to answer a related question that has drawn too little attention: Are criminals who are released from custody spreading the virus in the communities they return to? The background for the study is that Cook County Chief Judge...

Source: Wall Street Journal June 07, 2020 21:33 UTC