NEW YORK CITY — New York City’s jails have their lowest inmate levels since 1949, the mayor said in a press conference Thursday.
So far, 200 inmates in city jails have been released due to concerns of the spread of COVID-19 inside of the jails.
De Blasio had previously said it was a priority to release inmates awaiting trial that are older or have pre-existing conditions, and were at risk for coronavirus. He said the city would not release those accused of violent crimes.
By the end of Thursday, the mayor said 375 inmates would be released in total.
At the time of his daily briefing, Bill de Blasio said the inmate population at city jails was 4,906, the first time it was below 5,000 since 1949 following World War II.
He later tweeted about it:
Our city jail population is now 4,906. That’s the fewest detainees we’ve had in our jails since 1949.
By tonight, the number of inmates released in response to the COVID-19 crisis will go from 200 up to 375.
We will continue to address this in the safest way possible.
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) March 26, 2020
