GREENFIELD — A little more than a year after the COVID-19 pandemic hit the area and lockdowns and closures ensued, including at Franklin County Jail and House of Correction, the sheriff reports he’s beginning to lift restrictions.
“The jail locked down in March 2020 and placed strict safety restrictions on all operations,” Sheriff Christopher Donelan said of the 160 Elm St. facility. “Our safety protocol kept us safe until the vaccine arrived. Now all incarcerated men and women, as well as our officers and staff, are three months into vaccination and we are getting back to normal operations.”
“Normal operations,” he explained, means that classes and addiction treatment — which had been scaled back or done virtually until now — are back to being held fully in person.
“It means community service work crews are back, and vocational and training programs are operating again,” Donelan said.
Wednesday, March 30, was a big day, because it marked the first time in more than a year that families were welcomed on site for visits.
“I think the loss of family visits was the most difficult aspect of this past year,” Donelan said. “We tried to make up for it with free phone calls and video visits, but it’s just not the same.”
Donelan lamented how difficult it was to work through the restrictions and health safety protocols, but he said it was “all worth it.”
“We kept our men and women safe and healthy,” he said. “All of the security and civilian staff here took the precautions seriously, and as a result we had no COVID cases in our sentenced population. We were given the responsibility to keep our incarcerated men and women safe, and we did it. I couldn’t be more proud or pleased.”
Donelan previously stressed that the jail’s only positive COVID-19 cases involved new arrestees, and there have not been any cases inside the facility. The sheriff explained anyone brought in by police is tested for COVID-19 and, if positive, is placed in medical isolation.
Donelan’s medical staff members have helped vaccinate the elderly and educators across Franklin County. Jail officers and staff got their first shot in January and their second dose in February. Shortly after officers and staff received their first dose, inmates did, too. The roughly 130 inmates at the Franklin County Jail and House of Correction were fully vaccinated by the end of February.
Reach Anita Fritz at 413-772-9591 or afritz@recorder.com.