Inmates in Oregon prisons report dire conditions and the need of better medical care amid the pandemic

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Oregon prisons have felt the impact, with reports from inmates saying conditions are “unbearable.” Some of those in custody say there’s a lack of concern for inmates’ mental and physical health. And an inmate at the Sheridan Federal Correctional Institution recently died, as questions remain about the facility’s conditions. Lisa Hay is a public defender who is asking a judge to inspect Sheridan, which is Oregon’s only federal prison, in order to get updates on vaccination rates of its staff and examine the length of time inmates are confined to their cells. Hay joins us to share details on health conditions in prisons and what lockdown has been like for those incarcerated.

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