Opposition group ignores good work of BCHOC

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The motto of the left-wing activist groups, abolish-ICE advocates, Prisoners’ Legal Services and plain anti-Trumpers has always been, and continues to be, “Don’t let the facts interfere with your political agenda.”

They demand that any individual or government agency that contradicts the groups’ manufactured version of events must either resign or be abolished.

In the article “Progressive groups call for Hodgson to resign” on May 13, these groups use a press release citing the federal court’s recent decision somehow as “proof” that the Sheriff’s Office and ICE have been “deliberately indifferent” to the needs of ICE detainees. The Sheriff’s Office along with the United States Department of Justice and ICE are outraged that a federal judge would ignore established CDC guidelines. The United States Government believes this ruling to be contrary to well established law and is filing an immediate appeal of this decision to the Court of Appeals.

Notwithstanding the legal efforts in the case, it is important to note that even in this decision, the judge praised the Bristol County House of Corrections for its Herculean efforts in following the CDC guidelines and places themselves at the frontlines of danger every day, unlike anyone in these vocal political activist groups. Contrary to the misleading ramblings of these groups, one only needs to actually read the words of the judge’s opinion to ascertain the truth as the judge writes:

“The Court acknowledges and commends the significant steps that BCHOC has taken in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at that facility and treat anyone infected.”

Moreover after noting that after sworn affidavits submitted to the judge affirm that the Sheriff’s Office has followed all of the CDC recommendations, judge added: “The Court previously noted several protective measures that BCHOC has put in place since February, including restricting contact with outsiders, performing temperature screenings, and splitting up detainees during meals and recreation... The court recognizes the commendable efforts of the BCHOC staff, which have been operating in difficult and risky conditions where much is unknown. It is necessary to point this out given that, while the Court and the attorneys have been conferring remotely due to the pandemic, the dedicated professionals at BCHOC continue to perform their duties on site. That is no small thing.”

Not surprisingly, the left-wing activist groups failed to mention the judge’s praise of the efforts being made by the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office, or that the Sheriff’s Office is in full compliance with the national CDC guidelines.

The Department of Justice is appealing this ruling because this judge, in effect, ruled that following the CDC guidelines for prisons and detention centers constitutes deliberate indifference. Such a finding cannot stand. Such a ruling is contrary to the findings of all other judges who have considered COVID issues at prisons and detention centers. It is unfathomable to accept that the Sheriff’s Office’s and ICE’s following of the CDC guidelines could possibly constitute “deliberate indifference.”

The Court opinion based this “finding” was based on the judge’s assertion that “all detainees and all prison staff should be tested” for the virus despite not complaining of any symptoms. Such a practice is not followed in any prison nor does the CDC recommend it. A further basis for his finding is that ICE has not done enough to thin detainee populations and move detainees elsewhere, authority that is solely within the auspices of ICE and to which the Sheriff’s Office has no say.

I suggest that all interested read the entire decision of the Court and not accept the misleading accounts by those activist groups who have sought to overthrow the rule of law and order in communities for their own political purposes. For them, this is business as usual and their agenda has always been to let as many out of jail as possible. Since the start of this litigation the Sheriff’s Office, in concert with ICE, has sought to prevent the release of dangerous criminals back into the community. Even in orders releasing certain detainees, the judge expresses his hope that these released persons will obey the law. Neither the Sheriff’s Office nor ICE has the luxury of relying upon hope to protect the safety of the general public. This decision will be appealed with the expectation that the Court of Appeals will follow established law and reverse the judge’s action.

Thomas M. Hodgson is the Sheriff of Bristol County.