Missouri Supreme Court Defers to Local Judges on Releasing Some Prisoners on Covid-19 Exposure

(Jefferson City) In response to questions about the risk of exposure to COVID-19 in prisons and county and city jails, the Supreme Court of Missouri this week sent all state judges a letter calling attention to the various rules and statutes governing pretrial release of individuals charged with offenses but not yet found guilty as well as those governing release of individuals who have been found guilty and sentenced.

In doing so, the court leaves decisions about the release of any particular individual to the discretion of local judges to make appropriate decisions under the facts and circumstances of each particular case.

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