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’ response 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.
Showing in carceral facilities
Each spike represents the number of incarcerated people who have had COVID-19 within a facility
1
3.1k
6.1k
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 | 6,126 | 3,587 | 47 | 28 | 16 | 9 | 91,299 | 53,466 |
Maricopa County Jail | 3,658 | 6,894 | 62 | 117 | 0 | 0 | 72,003 | 135,701 |
Charles E Egeler Reception And Guidance Center | 3,164 | 29,001 | 79 | 724 | 11 | 101 | -- | 0 |
Avenal State Prison | 3,134 | 7,455 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 19 | -- | 0 |
Substance Abuse Treatment Facility | 3,034 | 5,734 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 13 | -- | 0 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 72% | 57% | |
| 67% | 23% | |
| 63% | -- | |
| 73% | -- | |
| 79% | 64% | |
Recent Updates
October 22nd, 2021
A crisis of undertesting: how inadequate COVID-19 detection skews the data and costs lives
Jails and prisons have been dangerously undertesting their populations for COVID-19. That not only means cases have gone undetected and multiplied, but also that we don't know just how prevalent the virus has been. Our own analysis makes clear that true infection rates are likely much higher those reported.
September 29th, 2021
Study: Hispanic people in Texas prisons dying of COVID-19 at rate double their White peers, Black people dying at rate 1.6 times
A survey of deaths in Texas prisons found that Hispanic and Black populations in prison have died of COVID-19 at rates far exceeding their White peers.
September 24th, 2021
Testimony to Georgia House Democratic Caucus Committee on Crisis in Prisons
This week, we provided testimony to the Georgia House Democratic Caucus Committee on Crisis in Prisons on the state of COVID-19 in Georgia state prisons. Here's what we said.
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