UCLA Law
COVID Behind Bars Data Project
We collect and analyze public information about the coronavirus pandemic in prisons, jails, youth facilities, and immigration detention centers across the United States. Our centralized source of data enables greater oversight of and accountability for carceral institutions’ responses to the pandemic behind bars. We also record legal and community responses to the crisis, including mass releases, legal filings, court orders, and organizing efforts.
Since the start of the pandemic, prisons and ICE detention centers across the U.S. have reported at least:
663,196
total cumulative cases among incarcerated people
3,181
total cumulative deaths among incarcerated people
247,194
total cumulative cases among staff
311
total cumulative deaths among staff
Showing in carceral facilities
Each spike represents the number of incarcerated people who have tested positive for COVID-19
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5.0k
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This map displays reported COVID-19 cases and related deaths of people incarcerated in carceral facilities across the US. Click on a state to access more data.
Rates and active cases are not available for all facilities. Learn why.
Facilities with the highest
| Cumulative Cases | Active Cases | Cumulative Deaths | Tests | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Facility | Count | Per 10k | Count | Per 10k | Count | Per 10k | Count | Per 10k | |
Los Angeles Jails | 9,975 | 5,842 | -- | -- | 20 | 12 | -- | -- | |
Wasco State Prison | 5,299 | 11,550 | 23 | 50 | 2 | 4 | -- | -- | |
Philadelphia Dept Of Jails | 5,096 | 10,661 | 13 | 27 | -- | -- | -- | -- | |
Substance Abuse Treatment Facility | 4,836 | 9,140 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 15 | -- | -- | |
Avenal State Prison | 4,342 | 10,328 | -- | -- | 8 | 19 | -- | -- | |
COVID-19 Vaccines in State and Federal Prisons
This table reflects data publicly reported by state and federal correctional agencies about the administration of COVID-19 vaccines to incarcerated people and staff in their facilities. The data reported here generally refer to people who have received at least one dose of a vaccine. There are some exceptions, noted with a flag, when agencies report only the number of people who have completed their vaccination schedules, and not the number of people partially vaccinated. Staff are generally not required to report their vaccination status to their employers, so the total numbers of staff who are vaccinated may be higher.
View our data on Github| Jurisdiction | Vaccination Rate for Incarcerated People | Vaccination Rate for Staff Members |
|---|---|---|
| 120% | -- | |
| 99% | 62% | |
| 98% | 49% | |
| 93% | 72% | |
| 84% | 48% | |
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Recent Updates
June 7th, 2023
Study: Incarcerated People Faced Medical Abuse, Poor Safety Protocols, Unsanitary Conditions, and Severe Isolation as COVID-19 Ravaged California State Prisons
Four prisons—Chuckwalla, Mule Creek, Chuckwalla, Chino, and Solano—stood out as particularly bad actors.
April 7th, 2023
COVID Scorecard Update 8: Despite waning public urgency for the COVID pandemic, accountability and transparency in prison COVID rates remain crucial
During the first quarter of 2023, many states ceased reporting COVID statistics, with some completely removing COVID data from their websites.
March 24th, 2023
Why Texas is a Model for Death-in-Custody Data Reporting
Many states fail to report public data on deaths that occur in government custody. Meanwhile, Texas has been the national model in transparent death-in-custody reporting for decades.
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