Originally published April 2, 2021. Statements about the law were updated in October 2026; the box below gives today’s rules.
Outcomes vary. A past result does not predict or guarantee the outcome of any other case.
In April 2021, a federal judge granted compassionate release to Jose Salas-Arroyo, a 60-year-old man with diabetes and other health problems. The court pointed to his higher risk from COVID-19 and the fact that he had already served 95% of his sentence.
United States v. Salas-Arroyo
2021 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 63092
His case
Jose Salas-Arroyo pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. He was sentenced to 120 months in prison and five years of supervised release (supervision by a probation officer after prison).
At 60 years old, he was scheduled for release on August 8, 2021. He asked for compassionate release because of his age and health conditions.
His health
Salas-Arroyo has type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension (high blood pressure), and hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol), and he is overweight. Together with his age, these conditions raise his risk of serious complications if he gets COVID-19.
Why the judge said yes
The court recognized his higher risk of COVID-19 complications. Because of that, and because he had served 95% of his 120-month sentence, he was granted compassionate release.
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