Maryland governor orders expedited release of certain prisoners due to COVID-19 pandemic News
Ichigo121212 / Pixabay
Maryland governor orders expedited release of certain prisoners due to COVID-19 pandemic

Maryland governor Lawrence Hogan signed an executive order on Saturday allowing the expedited release of hundreds of eligible inmates in an effort to enable social distancing and mitigate the spread of COVID-19 within the state’s prisons.

Hogan’s order authorizes the Commission on Correctional Standards and the Maryland Parole Commission to expedite the release of eligible categories of inmates, including those who were scheduled for parole within 120 days and those who, because of their age, medical conditions or special needs, are more at risk for complications due to the virus than other inmates, so long as they were not serving time for a violent crime or a sexual offense.

It also puts in place certain safeguards against the potential spread of the virus from the inmates to the public by requiring that the eligible inmate be screened for COVID-19 symptoms before being released and that the inmate self-isolates for at least 14 days once released.

This order is not the first of its kind in the US; similar orders have been issued in other states.

For more on COVID-19, see our special coverage.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Laws of Burgos put into effect

The Spanish Crown put the Laws of Burgos into effect on December 27, 1512. These laws governed the relationship of Spanish settlers with the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean. The laws established the encomienda system of labor, promoted conversion to Catholicism, and safeguarded the indigenous peoples from physical abuse.  However, historians argue that the laws were ineffective at protecting the rights of the indigenous population. Learn more from the Library of Congress.

Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public bar smashing

On December 27, 1900, militant Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public smashing of a bar, at the Carey Hotel in Wichita, Kansas. Nation argued that destroying bars was an acceptable means of battling the liquor trade since the Kansas Constitution prohibited alcohol. Learn more about Carrie Nation.

World Bank created

On December 27, 1944, the World Bank was created during the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, USA. Learn more about the history of the World Bank.