Broome Jail

“Obviously people not coming for prevention or care doesn’t help the situation, but I wouldn’t say the pandemic is fully to blame for the increase.”

“Why house us with somebody we can constantly contract it [from] every time a new intake person comes in."

The Broome County Sheriff said half of the jail’s staff has refused to get one.

"Why is it state-sentenced inmates are being punished by not getting the same treatment as every other state inmate all because we're housed in county jails?"

The people that have been released are those who are at low-risk for repeat offenses, such as petty larceny or technical parole violations.

Officials said the Broome jail is prepared.