Originally published April 9, 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 in California granted compassionate release to Keith Ramon Mayfield. The court pointed to his ongoing chest pain and breathing problems, and to the prison’s apparent failure to find out what was causing them.
United States v. Mayfield
United States District Court for the Northern District of California
2021 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 67678
His health problems
Keith Ramon Mayfield asked for compassionate release because of health problems. He has a shoulder injury that needs an MRI, and he was still waiting for the test to be approved. He explained that this condition greatly limits his ability to care for himself in prison.
Mayfield was also diagnosed with COVID-19 on March 1, 2021. But he believes his symptoms came from a respiratory illness that has not been diagnosed yet, which an MRI of his chest could explain.
He said he has “regularly and consistently complained to prison officials that he is still experiencing chest pains and breathing problems,” but his symptoms have not been resolved.
Why the judge said yes
The court looked at three things together: his ongoing chest pain and shortness of breath, the apparent lack of steps to diagnose the cause, and the fact that he had already had COVID-19. It decided these were compelling reasons for compassionate release.
If you want help with a compassionate release request, book a consultation.