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Florida Inmate Released Amid Pandemic Killed Someone the Next Day, Officials Say Florida Inmate Released Amid Pandemic Killed Someone the Next Day, Officials Say
(8 days later)
It was an effort, like many across the country, to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus in jails. But one day after officials in Hillsborough County, Fla., released more than 160 inmates, one of them shot and killed a man in Tampa, the authorities said.It was an effort, like many across the country, to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus in jails. But one day after officials in Hillsborough County, Fla., released more than 160 inmates, one of them shot and killed a man in Tampa, the authorities said.
The inmate, Joseph Edward Williams, 26, was arrested this week and charged with second-degree murder, resisting an officer with violence as well as drug and gun charges, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.The inmate, Joseph Edward Williams, 26, was arrested this week and charged with second-degree murder, resisting an officer with violence as well as drug and gun charges, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
Mr. Williams had been released on March 19 from the Orient Road Jail in Tampa, awaiting resolution of lower-level, nonviolent drug offenses, the sheriff’s office said. He was accused of committing the murder the next day.Mr. Williams had been released on March 19 from the Orient Road Jail in Tampa, awaiting resolution of lower-level, nonviolent drug offenses, the sheriff’s office said. He was accused of committing the murder the next day.
Mr. Williams was the only one of the 164 inmates released from two county jails to have been arrested again, the sheriff’s office said on Wednesday. But the case could reignite criticism from some law enforcement officials and prosecutors who had warned that releasing inmates as a public health response to the virus could jeopardize public safety.Mr. Williams was the only one of the 164 inmates released from two county jails to have been arrested again, the sheriff’s office said on Wednesday. But the case could reignite criticism from some law enforcement officials and prosecutors who had warned that releasing inmates as a public health response to the virus could jeopardize public safety.
Around the country, the authorities are releasing thousands of inmates jailed for probation violations, low-level drug offenses and other low-level crimes, trying to slow the spread of the virus already sweeping through prisons and jails, many of them overcrowded and unsanitary.Around the country, the authorities are releasing thousands of inmates jailed for probation violations, low-level drug offenses and other low-level crimes, trying to slow the spread of the virus already sweeping through prisons and jails, many of them overcrowded and unsanitary.
In Chicago, where infections at the county jail are soaring, one official compared the prison system to “petri dishes.” In New York, hundreds of inmates and staff members have tested positive at Rikers Island. And in Washington, Attorney General William P. Barr ordered the Bureau of Prisons on Friday to expand the group of federal inmates eligible for early release.In Chicago, where infections at the county jail are soaring, one official compared the prison system to “petri dishes.” In New York, hundreds of inmates and staff members have tested positive at Rikers Island. And in Washington, Attorney General William P. Barr ordered the Bureau of Prisons on Friday to expand the group of federal inmates eligible for early release.
Florida has the third-largest prison system in the country, according to the state Department of Corrections, with about 96,000 inmates in 2018. The agency reported Wednesday that more than 42 inmates had tested positive for the coronavirus, and the Department of Health said there are more than 20,000 cases across Florida, including more than 600 people have died.Florida has the third-largest prison system in the country, according to the state Department of Corrections, with about 96,000 inmates in 2018. The agency reported Wednesday that more than 42 inmates had tested positive for the coronavirus, and the Department of Health said there are more than 20,000 cases across Florida, including more than 600 people have died.
“Judges, prosecutors and sheriffs around the country are facing difficult decisions during this health crisis with respect to balancing public health and public safety,” Sheriff Chad Chronister of Hillsborough County said in a statement. “Sheriffs in Florida and throughout our country have released nonviolent, low-level offenders to protect our deputies and the jail population from an outbreak.”“Judges, prosecutors and sheriffs around the country are facing difficult decisions during this health crisis with respect to balancing public health and public safety,” Sheriff Chad Chronister of Hillsborough County said in a statement. “Sheriffs in Florida and throughout our country have released nonviolent, low-level offenders to protect our deputies and the jail population from an outbreak.”
Mr. Williams was eligible for release before a judicial order authorized the release of certain county inmates, and was issued a bond of $2,500 for drug charges of possession of heroin, a third-degree felony, and possession of drug paraphernalia, a first-degree misdemeanor.Mr. Williams was eligible for release before a judicial order authorized the release of certain county inmates, and was issued a bond of $2,500 for drug charges of possession of heroin, a third-degree felony, and possession of drug paraphernalia, a first-degree misdemeanor.
As such, the sheriff’s office said Mr. Williams met the criteria outlined in the order, which authorized the office to release certain low-level offenders in response to the virus’s outbreak.As such, the sheriff’s office said Mr. Williams met the criteria outlined in the order, which authorized the office to release certain low-level offenders in response to the virus’s outbreak.
The Hillsborough County Public Defender’s Office, which represented Mr. Williams, said it would not comment on pending cases.The Hillsborough County Public Defender’s Office, which represented Mr. Williams, said it would not comment on pending cases.
Kevin Ring, the president of Families Against Mandatory Minimums, an advocacy group, said that Mr. Williams’s case was an outlier among thousands of other cases of inmates released amid the pandemic.Kevin Ring, the president of Families Against Mandatory Minimums, an advocacy group, said that Mr. Williams’s case was an outlier among thousands of other cases of inmates released amid the pandemic.
“It’s harder to quantify the successes,” he said. “Law enforcement is doing triage, and these sheriffs on the front lines are having to make tough calls. But they’re making calls that are going to save more lives than are lost.”“It’s harder to quantify the successes,” he said. “Law enforcement is doing triage, and these sheriffs on the front lines are having to make tough calls. But they’re making calls that are going to save more lives than are lost.”
He said that prisons were already under pressure, many overcrowded and understaffed, and that the pandemic has forced the authorities to make difficult decisions about how best to protect the most people.He said that prisons were already under pressure, many overcrowded and understaffed, and that the pandemic has forced the authorities to make difficult decisions about how best to protect the most people.
“It’s a tragedy, there’s no question, but to exploit it — to say that we can’t continue to do this kind of lifesaving triage that we’re doing across the criminal justice system — that would be a mistake,” he said.“It’s a tragedy, there’s no question, but to exploit it — to say that we can’t continue to do this kind of lifesaving triage that we’re doing across the criminal justice system — that would be a mistake,” he said.
Mr. Williams had a criminal history that included previous convictions for burglary of an unoccupied conveyance in 2012 and being a felon in possession of a firearm in 2018, according to the sheriff’s office.Mr. Williams had a criminal history that included previous convictions for burglary of an unoccupied conveyance in 2012 and being a felon in possession of a firearm in 2018, according to the sheriff’s office.
The office of the state attorney, Andrew H. Warren, said in a statement on Wednesday night: “Sadly, there are people who are going to take advantage of this emergency and the sacrifices that so many are making to confront this pandemic. This man will now face the full weight of the law because of that.”The office of the state attorney, Andrew H. Warren, said in a statement on Wednesday night: “Sadly, there are people who are going to take advantage of this emergency and the sacrifices that so many are making to confront this pandemic. This man will now face the full weight of the law because of that.”
Updated July 27, 2020 Updated August 3, 2020
Investigators have released few details about the killing, but have said they “do not believe this was a random act.”Investigators have released few details about the killing, but have said they “do not believe this was a random act.”
The sheriff’s office said deputies responded on March 20 at about 10:40 p.m. to several 911 calls reporting gunshots in the Progress Village area of Tampa. Once there, they found a man with a gunshot wound and took him to Tampa General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Mr. Williams was arrested and charged with murder this week.The sheriff’s office said deputies responded on March 20 at about 10:40 p.m. to several 911 calls reporting gunshots in the Progress Village area of Tampa. Once there, they found a man with a gunshot wound and took him to Tampa General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Mr. Williams was arrested and charged with murder this week.
The order that authorized release of county inmates was issued by Ronald Ficarrotta, the chief judge of the 13th Judicial Circuit Court. It was one of many actions taken in recent weeks to release thousands of inmates across the country to try to slow the infection, to save lives as well as preserve medical resources.The order that authorized release of county inmates was issued by Ronald Ficarrotta, the chief judge of the 13th Judicial Circuit Court. It was one of many actions taken in recent weeks to release thousands of inmates across the country to try to slow the infection, to save lives as well as preserve medical resources.
“It’s certainly a tragedy, one which could not have been foreseen,” Judge Ficarrotta said in an interview on Wednesday. “I stand by the order. It was the right thing to do. It’s something we’ve done in the past when we’re facing a hurricane situation.”“It’s certainly a tragedy, one which could not have been foreseen,” Judge Ficarrotta said in an interview on Wednesday. “I stand by the order. It was the right thing to do. It’s something we’ve done in the past when we’re facing a hurricane situation.”
Jails, where social distancing is impossible and hand sanitizer is widely banned, have been hard hit by the coronavirus. Mr. Ring, the president of the advocacy group, said measures to ease the pressure on jails and prisons, many already overcrowded and understaffed, should go further still to protect people.Jails, where social distancing is impossible and hand sanitizer is widely banned, have been hard hit by the coronavirus. Mr. Ring, the president of the advocacy group, said measures to ease the pressure on jails and prisons, many already overcrowded and understaffed, should go further still to protect people.
“There are people who’ve been sitting in jail for 20 to 30 years, and are on walkers or are sick already, and are not a public safety threat,” he said. “They’re the most expensive to maintain and the least likely to reoffend. There’s no public safety benefit to keeping them there.”“There are people who’ve been sitting in jail for 20 to 30 years, and are on walkers or are sick already, and are not a public safety threat,” he said. “They’re the most expensive to maintain and the least likely to reoffend. There’s no public safety benefit to keeping them there.”