We just launched a new landing page with all our ongoing coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic, criminal justice and immigration. themarshallproject.org/coronavirus

NEW: For years, I’ve been hearing complaints about the food Texas prisoners get on lockdowns. I couldn’t really verify them before - but now I have leaked pictures. Here are a few, and thread: themarshallproject.org/2020/05/11/eww…

Though staffing problems amid the pandemic might explain some of the inconsistent scheduling, the quality of the food in part dates back to a 2011 budget cut that also eliminated lunch at some prisons. tdcj.texas.gov/documents/Anno…

The food is, of course, not the only tough thing about prison conditions right now. Tens of thousands of prisoners are locked in their cells. Some haven’t seen sunlight in weeks, they say. themarshallproject.org/2020/04/15/wha…

Showers - which on some units are done in masses of several dozen men crammed together “nuts to butts” and showered en masse - are sporadic, prisoners report. (Officials say showers are occurring in smaller groups now, though prisoners report otherwise.)

Coronavirus Has Made Texas Prison Food Even More Gross | The Marshall Project themarshallproject.org/2020/05/11/eww…

COVID-19 cases have skyrocketed in Texas prisons in recent weeks. Yet some confirmed cases in state prisons are being excluded from the Texas health department tally with little explanation from government officials. texasobserver.org/covid-19-texas…

Jstclair:”Texas official have undercounted COVID-19 cases by excluding many sick prisoners in a state where in at least nine counties the current prison cases make up more than 10 percent of the total COVID-19 cases in the county.”

Your community is intrinsically linked to the prisons. #PrisonerRightsAreHumanRights City of Plainview TX City of Iowa colony Mayor Eric L. Johnson

Surprise surprise, private prisons are failing to report data on COVID infections. In Texas and Pennsylvania, home to six of the 11 private federal prisons, health officials said the prisons are not reporting case numbers to state or local health agencies. themarshallproject.org/2020/05/08/why…

Prison food is notoriously bad, even in the best of times. And this isn’t the best of times. New from The Marshall Project, Keri Blakinger reports on how coronavirus has made Texas prison food even worse. themarshallproject.org/2020/05/11/eww…

Health experts warn that a severe and urgent response must be implemented given the dire threat the virus poses to people incarcerated in our jails and prisons. Brad Pingel @mayor_margo Dickinson, Texas

This is disgusting!Coronavirus Has Made Texas Prison Food Even More Gross | The Marshall Project themarshallproject.org/2020/05/11/eww…

@MayorDanPope Understaffing issues are already plaguing Texas prisons. As more staff become infected, they will be unable to work. Therefore, following any health protocols will become more difficult and exacerbate an already significant problem.

Prisons are full of people in high-risk categories such as; the rapidly growing aging population, those with disabilities, and those with chronic health issues. Ron Nirenberg @marlintxpride

Beeville City Council beevilletx.org/beeville_city_…