The coronavirus pandemic has been sweeping across the nation over the last four months, including in jails and prisons in many states. In these facilities it is difficult in many cases to maintain proper social distancing between inmates.

Due to these concerns, many politicians and advocates have promoted successfully the idea of releasing inmates, particularly those who are of less of a threat to the general public – some who may have committed low-level misdemeanors – and those who are elderly, medically compromised, or pregnant.

Some in law enforcement officials have fought against this idea of early release, contending that it would overburden the law enforcement community. Others see it as a necessity in order to prevent a wider spread of the virus throughout the nation’s prison population. More than 50% of the states have decided to release individuals convicted of lower-level crimes.

In Maryland back in April, Gov. Hogan issued an executive order accelerating the release of prisoners who have four months left on their sentence, in addition to putting older prisoners at the front of the line for release, and also encouraging home detention as a consideration after release.

However, some prisoners who may seem ideal candidates for release have not been so fortunate.

The case of Anthony Blue

Anthony Blue was a resident of Baltimore. Several weeks ago, he died as a result of COVID-19 after spending the majority of his life in prison for murder conviction in 1976. The Baltimore Sun reported on the persistent failures of the criminal justice system in Maryland that kept him locked up in prison, while his health and situation continuing to deteriorate all the way up until he acquired the coronavirus and his death. Blue was the only reported case at Hagerstown’s Roxbury Correctional Institution of an inmate coming down with COVID-19, among 1,680 eventually tested. He was one of only eight prisoners across the state to die from the virus.

During his time in prison, Blue went blind in his left eye from a self-inflicted injury and suffered from schizophrenia. He had an opportunity in 2012 for release, but that would have required him to admit guilt for the crime for which he was accused. He would not do so, and maintained his innocence until his death.

His attorneys worked hard in the final months and weeks to secure his release and have his initial conviction vacated, but time ran out. In the end, Blue succumbed to the virus.

The question must be raised as to why the justice system in Maryland could not work fast enough to evaluate the petitions of Blue and his attorneys. Consider the questions surrounding how he was accused and convicted, his blindness, age, the length of his prison stay, and his condition of contracting the COVID-19. Anthony Blue, it seems, did not receive the prompt attention to his appeal he deserved.

At Carey Law Office, criminal defense attorney Joseph Carey is here to help you if you are facing any type of criminal charge. We know how to face down the prosecution and win in court or negotiate when needed for favorable plea deal. To set up a consultation in our office in Bowie or Crofton about your case, call us today at 301.464.2500 or fill out our contact form and leave us a message.