May 8th, 2020 by WCBC Radio
Delegate Terri Sypolt, R-Preston, today said she was pleased the Federal Bureau of Prisons has reversed its decision to transfer out-of-state federal inmates to prisons in Preston and Gilmer counties.
“I’m relieved the federal government has reversed this short-sighted decision that could have potentially increased the spread of COVID-19 in West Virginia,” Delegate Sypolt said. “Our local residents have done such a tremendous job doing their part to stop the spread of this virus in our communities, and I’m glad the federal government has ended this unnecessary practice that needlessly put our people at risk.”
U.S. Attorney General William Barr this morning confirmed to U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., that no more out-of-state inmates would be transferred to the Hazelton and Gilmer federal correctional facilities. Those facilities had earlier been designated as two of 10 federal prisons that would be used as quarantine sites for new federal inmates before they are placed in general population.
“I’m grateful Attorney General Barr heard our concerns about the dangers of bringing inmates from active COVID-19 hotspots in other states to portions of West Virginia that had hardly any cases,” Delegate Sypolt said. “This has really been a unified, bipartisan team effort from all levels of government, including our congressional delegation, Governor, state Attorney General and local representatives, and I’m glad our voices – and the voices of our constituents – were heard.”
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