TELL HOWARD COUNTY TO EMPTY THE DETENTION CENTER

We are facing an international health crisis that is having a physical and economic impact on vast parts of our community. People who are being held at the Howard County Detention Center are particularly at risk of being impacted by the coronavirus. No one should be put in harm's way by our County because they are waiting to stand trial, because they are serving time for a minor infraction, or because the County is profiting by renting bed space to ICE.

We will send the following letter to the Howard County Executive and members of the County Council, asking them to release from the Detention Center those held on low-level non-violent offenses. There is no clearer time than now, when the health and safety of not just detainees, but all Marylanders depend on the local authorities taking action. With your help we can achieve this goal!

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TELL HOWARD COUNTY (MD) TO EMPTY THE DETENTION CENTER

Dear [elected official],

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TELL HOWARD COUNTY (MD) TO EMPTY THE DETENTION CENTER

We are facing an international health crisis that is having a physical and economic impact on vast parts of our community.  People who are being held at the Howard County Detention Center are particularly at risk of being impacted by the virus.  No one should be put in harm’s way by our County because they are waiting to stand trial, because they are serving time for a minor infraction, or because the County is profiting by renting bed space to ICE.

We are writing to urge you to:

a)      Stop renting space in the Howard County Detention Center to ICE. Howard County, which prides itself in celebrating diversity, is profiting off a cruel and unjust incarceration of immigrants.

b)     Direct the police department to stop performing custodial arrests of low-level offenders, instead issuing if necessary appearance tickets for future court dates

c)     Pre-Release from the Detention Center those held on low-level non-violent offenses.

Jail is not supposed to be a death sentence. We ask you to act immediately to cancel the contract with ICE and release others being held unnecessarily at the Howard County Detention Center.  Health authorities continue to advise the public of the contagiousness of COVID-19, and it is clear that prisons and immigration detentions are not moving fast enough to address the overcrowding.

There is no clearer time than now, when the health and safety of not just detainees, but all Marylanders depend on it, for you to take action.

Sincerely, [Your information here]