Inmates, families worry about social distancing at Shutter Creek

Inmates and their families report a lack of social distancing at the Shutter Creek Correctional Institution where as of Tuesday, 2 staff members tested positive for coronavirus as well as 13 inmates.

News la shutter creek correctional institution is under quarantine-- with 13 inmates and 2 staff members testing positive at last count.

Kezi 9 news reporter chris lueneburg spoke with the family members of inmates about conditions inside.

In the same state-- but sperated by bars... "my partner was like, 'the guards are coughing, they are transferring people in.

I'm really scared of this covid stuff."

The distance feels even further during the pandemic.

"i'm really scared because we have these plans for the future.

Starting a family, getting married in january.

And so there's this fear that i may never see this person again."

In shutter creek-- kaylyn says her partner reports bunks just feet apart-- and not enough sanitary supplies.

Even the department of corrections says it's facilites weren't meant for social distancing.

"you can see some of the precautions the department of corrections is taking here on their website... everything from extra sanitization to giving inmates masks.

Oregon aclu says those are important steps-- but more serious actions need to be taken" they say it's impossible for state prisons to meet their consitutional responsibility to keep inmates safe from danger with their current capacities.

"our prison officials have a constitution obligation to protect people from the risk of harm, including the risk of death.

This is a very serious virus and we have yet to see a plan put in place to safely house people."

Though governor kate brown dropped the idea of releasing some inmates early, the alcu says it may be an elegant solution.

"an institution like shutter creek in coos county, it's a minimum security facility.

It's where a number of people are living just before they get released."

The alcu has filed public records requests to learn what state officials knew about risks inside prisons-- and if they took sufficient action.

A question kaylyn is eager to get an answer on.

"if we really took a look case by case, theres the potential that some people don't need to be there."

Growing tensions behind bars.

Reporting in eugene i'm chris lueneburg kezi