Press Release

FAMM calls for an investigation into the death of Andrea Circle Bear who died of COVID-19 in Federal Bureau of Prisons custody

For Media Inquiries:
Rabiah Burks, 202-822-6700
rburks@famm.org

FAMM calls for an investigation into the death of Andrea Circle Bear who died of COVID-19 in Federal Bureau of Prisons custody

WASHINGTON – FAMM President Kevin Ring issued the following statement in response to the death of Andrea Circle Bear, who died giving birth to her child while on a ventilator due to COVID-19 complications while in Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) custody. FAMM is calling for an immediate investigation, and for the expansion of compassionate release and use of home confinement.

“Not every prison death is avoidable, but Andrea Circle Bear’s certainly seems to have been — she simply should not have been in a federal prison under these circumstances,” Ring said. “In fact, nothing better demonstrates our mindless addiction to punishment more than the fact that, in the midst of a global pandemic, our government moved a 30-year-old, COVID-vulnerable pregnant woman not to a hospital or to her home, but to a federal prison.

“Her death is a national disgrace, and I hope it is a wake-up call. Ms. Circle Bear was sentenced to 26 months in prison, not the death penalty. We have to do better. The Justice Department should investigate why this happened and take steps to ensure that it never happens again.”

For nearly three decades, FAMM has united the voices of affected families, the formerly incarcerated, and a range of stakeholders and advocates to fight for a more fair and effective justice system. FAMM’s focus on ending a one-size-fits-all punishment structure has led to reforms to sentencing and prison policies in six states and is paving the way to programs that support rehabilitation for the 94% of all prisoners who will return to our neighborhoods one day.

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FAMM is a national nonpartisan advocacy organization that promotes fair and effective criminal justice policies that safeguard taxpayer dollars and keep our communities safe. Founded in 1991, FAMM is helping transform America’s criminal justice system by uniting the voices of impacted families and individuals and elevating the issues all across the country.