While the coronavirus has sparked panic among the general populace at large, jails, prisons and detention centers have come under increased scrutiny for the ability – or, rather, lack of – to keep the potentially deadly virus from breaking out among their tightly-packed prisoner populations.
And apparently, some cities like Philly have decided it’s probably better to just not arrest anyone at all, given the apocalypse and all.
According to reporters on the ground, Philadelphia police have been instructed by their department to stop arresting people for a whole host of crimes including, but not limited to, burglary, vandalism, shoplifting, drug offenses and car theft. Officers have been told to detain any individual suspected of these crimes for long enough to get their information, but not to book them. The suspect will then be released and arrested on a warrant at a later date once the whole pandemic issue has been resolved.
BREAKING: @phillypolice officers instructed to stop making arrests for following list of what are consider non-violent crimes. Here is the email sent to city police officers telling them to just obtain arrest warrants for now. @FOX29philly pic.twitter.com/GYl13T67uK
— Steve Keeley (@KeeleyFox29) March 17, 2020
Police say the order is also to protect officers during the public health crisis.
“We are supportive of Commissioner Outlaw’s directive on making arrests during the Coronavirus crisis," Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #5 President John McNesby said. "The directive was released to keep officers safe during this public-health crisis. Meanwhile, violent offenders will be arrested and processed with the guidance of a police supervisor."