Criminal Justice and Covid-19
The coronavirus has certainly impacted the lives of students everywhere and Criminology and Criminal Justice students at UM-Dearborn are no exception. Like all University classes, our courses were suddenly required to shift to online mode and our faculty quickly responded. I know that the transition has been difficult for some students. We are doing our best to recognize and take those difficulties into consideration as the semester comes to a close. All of our summer courses are now required to be exclusively online as well. Unfortunately, that means that the Capstone 478 Internship class cannot be offered this summer and I encourage especially our Seniors to start seeking internship placements for next year and to contact Nina Loveberry (nlerma@umich.edu) to begin the process for next fall or winter semester. I know these adaptations can be stressful, but it is important for all of us to remember that it is the health and safety of everyone, far beyond the University community, that is at stake.
Nationally, the virus has had repercussions throughout our criminal justice system. Courts at every level have postponed or canceled proceedings and even the U.S. Supreme Court building is closed. Law enforcement and other first responders have continued to work but the toll on them is enormous. The Detroit police department has more than 500 of its officers, including the Chief, quarantined with the disease. Many departments have expanded citation in lieu of arrest policies to limit arrests and curtail the spread of the virus in jails. Both prisoners and staff in correctional facilities are at very high risk. Some officials at the federal, state and local levels have responded by reducing jail admissions, releasing some inmates from jails and prisons, or reducing or suspending prison visitation.
Nevertheless, the virus is continuing to spread through corrections facilities: of the 129 inmates tested at Parnall Correctional, 119 tested positive; 55 of the 66 inmates tested at Macomb Correctional tested positive; 107 corrections officers and staff in the state have tested positive and two have died from it. As a result of the reduction in police activity and stay-at-home orders that have closed traditional crime hot spots like bars, the overall crime rate has significantly declined. Unfortunately, there has been a corresponding increase in the incidents of domestic violence. These are indeed difficult and even perilous times; but, if we continue to abide by the restrictions on our daily lives, we will persevere and be able to resume normal activities.