ARIZONA NEWS

Penzone: Only work furlough inmates released due to coronavirus

Apr 21, 2020, 4:05 AM | Updated: 9:36 am

Paul Penzone...

Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone (AP File Photo/Matt York)

(AP File Photo/Matt York)

PHOENIX — Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone clarified on Monday the criteria for which some county jail inmates have been released early due to coronavirus concerns.

“The only circumstance where we applied that was with the work release, work furlough [inmates],” Penzone told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Gaydos and Chad.

These inmates normally complete their sentences by serving time in jails during the evening and then leave the facilities during the day in order to work, he said.

Penzone temporarily suspended this arrangement, which resulted in about 150 inmates being released home until the coronavirus outbreak has ceased.

Inmates will then resume their sentencing once the public health crisis has concluded, according to Penzone.

The Maricopa County sheriff said his decision was made in order to stop work furlough inmates from potentially bringing COVID-19 into the jail population.

“That level of exposure — where they’re going out into the community and coming back — they’re actually more likely to maybe bring something into the jail system that could be COVID positive,” Penzone said.

Penzone added that there have been zero confirmed cases of coronavirus among Maricopa County jail inmates.

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Penzone: Only work furlough inmates released due to coronavirus