COVID-19 has created a sense of entrapment, despair, and loneliness as people are urged to stay inside and stay away from crowds and loved ones. But for the 2.3 million people imprisoned in the United States, these feelings are a reality each and every day. There are 1,833 state prisons, 110 federal prisons, 1,772 juvenile correctional facilities, 218 immigration detention facilities, and 3,134 local jails within the American justice system. While most Americans have the freedom to practice social distancing, prisoners do not. The lack of space for social distancing and the constant influx of people moving in and out of these facilities make prisons and jails amplifiers for infectious diseases such as coronavirus.

How Many Prisoners Have COVID?

COVID-19 in prisons is a major issue; the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy found that coronavirus in correctional facilities occurred at a rate 5.5 times higher than in the general population from March 31 to June 6. By Oct. 20, at least 152,955 people in prison had tested positive for coronavirus, according to The Marshall Project.

This analysis from the Statutes-of-Limitations team visualizes the coronavirus prison outbreak patterns across the country with state-by-state data:

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<a href="https://www.statutes-of-limitations.com/us-states-covid-19-rates-correctional-facilities/"><img src="https://www.statutes-of-limitations.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/states-highest-covid-rates-prisons-3_1311.png" title="U.S. States With the Highest COVID-19 Rates for Prisoners in Correctional Facilities - Statutes-of-Limitations.com - Infographic" alt="U.S. States With the Highest COVID-19 Rates for Prisoners in Correctional Facilities - Statutes-of-Limitations.com - Infographic"></a><br><a href="https://www.statutes-of-limitations.com" alt="Statutes-of-Limitations.com" title="Statutes-of-Limitations.com">By Statutes-of-Limitations.com</a>

Here are the ten states that have been hit hardest by COVID-19 in prisons, based on cases per 10,000 inmates, as well as how this rate compares to the COVID-19 rate in the state’s general population:

1. Arkansas: 4,502 cases per 10,000 inmates (1,253% higher than the general population rate)
2. Kansas: 3,296 cases per 10,000 inmates (1,216% higher than the general population rate)
3. Tennessee: 2,916 cases per 10,000 inmates (753% higher than the general population rate)
4. Idaho: 2,685 cases per 10,000 inmates (792% higher than the general population rate)
5. New Jersey: 1,970 cases per 10,000 inmates (688% higher than the general population rate)
6. Florida: 1,962 cases per 10,000 inmates (454% higher than the general population rate)
7. Texas: 1,922 cases per 10,000 inmates (568% higher than the general population rate)
8. Oklahoma: 1,921 cases per 10,000 inmates (594% higher than the general population rate)
9. Michigan: 1,796 cases per 10,000 inmates (981% higher than the general population rate)
10. Vermont: 1,694 cases per 10,000 inmates (5,303% higher than the general population rate)

How Many Prisoners Have Died From COVID?

At least 1,276 prisoners have died due to COVID-related causes. These states have the highest COVID death rates per 10,000 inmates:

1. New Jersey: 34 deaths per 10,000 inmates (84% higher than the general population rate)
2. Arkansas: 30 deaths per 10,000 inmates (144% higher than the general population rate)
3. Ohio: 23 deaths per 10,000 inmates (431% higher than the general population rate)
4. Michigan: 21 deaths per 10,000 inmates (190% higher than the general population rate)
5. Louisiana: 20 deaths per 10,000 inmates (63 percent higher than the general population rate)
6. Florida: 19 deaths per 10,000 inmates (151% higher than the general population rate)
7. South Carolina: 19 deaths per 10,000 inmates (163% higher than the general population rate)
8. Georgia: 15 deaths per 10,000 inmates (105% higher than the general population rate)
9. Alabama: 14 deaths per 10,000 inmates (144% higher than the general population rate)
10. Tennessee: 14 deaths per 10,000 inmates (224% higher than the general population rate)