Jay-Z and Meek Mill's Reform Alliance to send 10 million masks to US prisons

Twitter's Jack Dorsey makes $10m donation

Jay-Z and Meek Mill’s Reform Alliance is sending 10 million surgical masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE) to US jails after receiving a $10m donation from Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, according to reports.

The REFORM Alliance, originally founded by the rappers, lobbies for change in the criminal justice system in the US. The organisation, which is currently run by Van Jones has been pushing lawmakers to reduce incarcerations during the pandemic, over concerns that prisons could be breeding grounds for the disease.

“This generous donation from Jack and #startsmall is an absolute game-changer,” Mr Jones told The Hill.

“Not only will this gift help us protect millions from the threat of Covid-19, but this level of support from a tech titan marks a turning point for the criminal justice reform movement. It’s truly an honour to call Jack an ally in this fight, be able to provide masks to every prison in America and potentially save tens of thousands of lives.“

Mr Dorsey's donation was part of a $1bn total he pledged to assist Covid-19 relief efforts he made through his Smart Small relief fund, according to CBS News.

“I'm grateful Reform exists. The criminal justice system needs to change. Covid-19 adds to the injustices, and Reform is best suited to help,” Mr Dorsey said in a statement according to CBS News.

The equipment purchased with the donation will reportedly be provided to prisons in all 50 states and be used by inmates, correctional officers and any other staff members.

There have been concerns since the pandemic hit the US that a prison environment presents the optimum conditions for the spread of the virus, with social distancing measures proving difficult in many facilities close quarters.

The Alliance has argued that elderly, sick and incarcerated individuals who do not represent a threat to public safety should be released during the pandemic to protect their safety and others.

They have recently launched the #AnswerTheirCall digital campaign to highlight mass incarceration through the accounts of inmates and how “Covid-19 is ripping through the US prison system.”

“This is 2.3 million Americans that don't usually have the loudest voice,” Bob Pilon, president of the Reform Alliance, told CBS News.

“That's why we're doing this, to give that population a voice and answer their call to be treated like humans.”

A report from the Centres for Disease Control on the impact of coronavirus in US prisons revealed the statistics for Covid-19 in of 37 states and territories.

According to the report, of the 32 of the areas that provided data 4,893 inmates had been diagnosed with Covid-19 as of April 21, and 88 had died. Staff members accounted for 2,778 cases and 15 deaths, CBS reported.

However, researchers noted that the findings are limited and don't represent the total number of cases in all US correctional facilities, suggesting much more research needs to be completed

The data only provides an initial snapshot of the deadly impact of the pandemic in correctional facilities across the US.