Judge won’t order more controls upon NC prison system

RALEIGH, N.C. — (AP) — A North Carolina judge has refused to place more controls upon the state prison system after inmate advocates argued it wasn’t doing enough to protect the incarcerated against COVID-19.

The judge’s order filed on Friday said there wasn’t enough evidence to issue additional enforcement orders upon the Department of Public Safety and its leaders.

Lawyers for prisoners argued prison officials had failed to adequately carry out the judge’s previous order related to sanitary conditions and releasing prisoners early.

More than 2,300 prisoners in state prisons have tested positive for COVID-19 since the pandemic began, with 11 virus-related deaths.

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