WHITE PLAINS – In an effort to reduce the population at the Westchester County Jail to reduce the spread of COVID-19, the district attorney is working with the Legal Aid Society of Westchester and privately retained criminal defense attorneys to review case files of inmates who may merit early release.
So far, 33 individuals have been released from the Westchester County Jail pursuant to stipulations executed by District Attorney Scarpino and Clare Degnan, executive director of the Legal Aid Society of Westchester. Another 32 inmates incarcerated for violations of probation were released upon unopposed applications by defense counsel. All 65 of those released by stipulation had release dates on or before June 26, 2020 and were serving sentences of one year or less.
“The health and safety of employees of the Westchester County Jail, corrections officers as well as those incarcerated is important,” said DA Anthony Scarpino. “The release of inmates is an ongoing process. We are continuing to review requests from the defense bar for early release. We try to balance the need to reduce the jail population for health and safety inside the jail against the public safety as a whole.”
