What happens to Ohio inmates released during the pandemic?

By Friday afternoon, a little over 21% of Ohio’s 18,743 COVID-19 patients were located inside state correctional facilities — institutions that have, like nursing homes, struggled to contain the pandemic while housing large populations in close quarters. In many situations, it simply can’t be done. Many Ohio prisons and jails, including the one in Hamilton County, have opted to take a chance: Release low-level, non-violent inmates to create more space for those who remain incarcerated.