Covid Compassionate Release for Federal Inmate Granted.

Covid Compassionate Release is growing in popularity in federal courts. This case is a recent example.

April 8, 2021

United States v. Parker

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

2021 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 66400

Health risks connected to Covid along with rehabilitation lead to compassionate release

John Douglas Parker Parker was arrested in June 2008 for the armed robbery of two banks. He pled guilty to two counts of armed bank robbery and was sentenced him to 228 months in prison and five years’ supervised release. His projected release date is July 31, 2025. Thus, he already has served roughly 154 months of his 228-month sentence and has credit for good conduct time of approximately 10 months, for a total time served of approximately 164 months.

Parker, who is 59, made a request for compassionate release based upon the fact that he has high blood pressure, high cholesterol, stage 3 chronic kidney disease and mild obesity, all of which put him at an increased risk of an adverse outcome were he to contract Covid-19.

In making its decision, the court noted that Parker has been a model prisoner, committing no infractions whatsoever. Further, he struggled with an addiction to drugs and alcohol for most of his life and virtually all his criminal history was attributable to his substance abuse. Additionally, Parker participated in several programs to better himself during his recent time behind bars, and he is currently working towards obtaining his associates’ degree. The court also feels that Parker is no longer a threat to public safety. Therefore, the judgement was made to grant his request for covid compassionate release.