Opinion
CRIM. NO. 1:19-CR-82-01
05-27-2020
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. ALEJANDRO ALVAREZ RIVERA
(Chief Judge Conner)
( ) MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
I. Introduction
The defendant in this case, Alejandro Alvarez-Rivera, is alleged to be a large-scale drug trafficker. Alvarez-Rivera is currently detained by federal authorities and is also subject to a sentence of imprisonment imposed upon him following a drug conviction in the state of New York. It also appears that Alvarez-Rivera is an illegal, undocumented alien, a Dominican national who has at times masqueraded as a citizen of Puerto Rico.
Despite this array of factors which caution in favor of the defendant's continued incarceration Alvarez-Rivera seeks release pending trial citing the current COVID pandemic and a wholly undocumented claim that he is an asymptomatic asthmatic. For the reasons discussed below, we will decline this invitation, and deny this motion for pre-trial release.
Alejandro Alvarez-Rivera has been charged in a federal indictment with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, as part of an alleged drug trafficking conspiracy that extended from the eastern United States to California. At the time he was indicted in this matter, the defendant was serving a sentence in the New York State Department of Corrections for possession of controlled substances. In addition to these drug trafficking charges, the defendant's criminal history includes charges from the District of Puerto Rico for fraud, identity theft, and a notation of his status as a deportable alien.
At the time the pretrial services report was created, the disposition of these charges from the District of Puerto Rico were unknown. --------
Notwithstanding this constellation of factors which cautions against the defendant's release, this case now comes before us for consideration of a motion for temporary release of the defendant filed pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3142(i), which provides that:
The judicial officer may, . . ., permit the temporary release of the person, in the custody of a United States marshal or another appropriate person, to the extent that the judicial officer determines such release to be necessary for preparation of the person's defense or for another compelling reason.18 U.S.C. § 3142 (i).
In the instant case, the "compelling reason" which the defendant asserts justifies the defendant's temporary release from pre-trial detention is the COVID-19 pandemic that is sweeping the nation, and the dangers of infection which may result from close confinement in a custodial setting. In addition, the defendant has alleged that he has asthma, a medical condition that makes him more susceptible to the virus. This motion is fully briefed by the parties, and we have afforded all parties the opportunity to make evidentiary presentations in support of their respective positions regarding temporary release for the defendant. Therefore, this motion is ripe for resolution.
We acknowledge the gravity of the defendant's concerns, which are shared by all Americans as this nation faces a pandemic without precedent in the past century of our nation's history. In addressing the instant motion, we must assess these individual medical concerns, apply the legal benchmarks mandated by Congress, and weigh these concerns against the important societal interests promoted by the Bail Reform Act, which calls for the detention of those defendants who present a danger to the community. Having conducted an individualized assessment of the facts and circumstances presented in this case, for the reasons set forth below it is ordered that the motion for temporary release is DENIED.
II. Factual Background and Procedural History
On March 13, 2019, the defendant was indicted for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846. Specifically, the indictment charged the defendant with arranging for the sale of cocaine hydrochloride and heroin on several occasions, as well as arranging to travel from New Jersey to California to facilitate the purchase of cocaine hydrochloride. In connection with these charges the Government has made a compelling actual proffer stating in part that the defendant is tied to this drug trafficking by a Title III wiretap, the seizure of more than $140,000 in drug proceeds which Alvarez-Rivera was transporting, and the testimony of cooperating witnesses. Following the defendant's arrest, the United States moved pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3142 to detain the defendant pending trial. Initial proceedings were then conducted in this case on July 30, 2019.
At the time of these initial proceedings, the probation office prepared a comprehensive pre-trial services report, which provided the following information concerning the defendant's social and medical history, prior history of substance abuse, and criminal record: At the time he was indicted and arrested, Alvarez-Rivera was twenty-five years old and was incarcerated in the New York State Department of Corrections. He was serving a two-year sentence at the Washington Correctional Facility for possession of cocaine. His criminal history included charges from the District of Puerto Rico for fraud, identity theft, illegal use of a credit card, and deportable alien; however, the disposition of these charges was unknown. The report indicated that the defendant posed a risk of flight and a danger to the community based on the following characteristics: the nature of the instant offense, substance abuse history, prior arrests and convictions, the use of aliases or false identification, the fact that the defendant was currently serving a state sentence in New York, and the defendant's unknown immigration status.
Following these initial proceedings, we ordered the defendant detained pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3142, finding that the defendant presented a risk of flight and danger to the community, and that there was no condition or combinations of conditions which could assure the safety of the community or the defendant's appearance in court as required. On this score, we specifically found that the following factors supported the pre-trial detention of the defendant: the weight of the evidence against him was strong, he was subject to a lengthy period of incarceration if convicted, his lack of legal status in the United States, and the fact that he would be subject to removal or deportation following any period of incarceration. (Doc. 192).
The instant motion for temporary release does not focus upon or directly challenge any of these initial detention findings or determinations. Instead, the defendant's motion for release rests upon a concern shared by all: the risk of infection due to the current coronavirus pandemic. As the defendant notes, this risk of community spread is heightened in a custodial setting, where the very nature of confinement limits the ability of individuals to engage in the type of social isolation that is recommended to curb the spread of this disease. In addition, the defendant contends that he has asthma, which puts him at a higher risk of contracting the virus.
The Government, in turn, opposes this motion, arguing that the defendant has not met his burden to justify his release pending trial. We agree, and for the reasons that follow, we will deny the defendant's motion.
III. Discussion
A. Temporary Release Under 18 U.S.C. § 3142
While cast as a motion seeking temporary release under 18 U.S.C. § 3142 (i), this motion is best understood and evaluated in the context of the Bail Reform Act as a whole. In the Bail Reform Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3141, et seq., Congress created a comprehensive set of statutory guidelines governing release and detention decisions for criminal cases in federal court. As one court has recently observed:
Before this Court can turn to the analysis under 18 U.S.C. § 3142(i), it is essential to look at the overarching structure of the statute. The fundamental precept of the Bail Reform Act mandates the release of individuals so long as the court can be reasonably assured the defendant does not pose a flight risk or danger to the community. 18 U.S.C. § 3142. To the extent that conditions, or a combination of conditions, can be fashioned to reasonably provide such assurances, the individual must be released, as detention is "the carefully limited exception." Id.; see also United States v. Salerno, 481 U.S. 739, 755 (1987).
In assessing what conditions, if any, can be fashioned, judges are directed to take into account available information pertaining to the factors identified under 18 U.S.C. § 3142(g). Those factors include the nature and circumstances of the offense charged, including whether it involves controlled substances or firearms; the weight of the evidence against the defendant; the defendant's history and characteristics (including history relating to drug abuse, defendant's criminal history, and record of appearing at court proceedings); whether the detainee was on probation, parole, or other court supervision at the time of the allegedly offensive conduct; and the nature and seriousness of the
danger to any person or the community posed by the defendant's release. 18 U.S.C. § 3142(g). Ultimately, the information provided in each case aids in the individualized assessment that will result in the release or the detention of the person.United States of America v. Cox, 2020 WL 1491180, *2 (D. Nev. Mar. 27, 2020).
Beyond this individualized assessment mandated by law, the Bail Reform Act also enjoins us to weigh release and detention decisions against a series of statutory presumptions. Principal among these presumptions which guide us in this custodial calculus are a series of statutory presumptions in favor of detention for defendants charged with violent crimes, serious drug trafficking offenses, or crimes involving the sexual exploitation of the most vulnerable in society, our children. As to these defendants, "[s]ubject to rebuttal by the person, it shall be presumed that no condition or combination of conditions will reasonably assure the appearance of the person as required and the safety of the community if the judicial officer finds that there is probable cause to believe that the person committed," one of these enumerated offenses. 18 U.S.C. § 3142 (e)(3). In this regard, it is also well-settled that an "indictment [charging an enumerated offense] is sufficient to support a finding of probable cause triggering the rebuttable presumption of dangerousness under § 3142(e)." United States v. Suppa, 799 F.2d 115, 119 (3d Cir. 1986).
Cast against this comprehensive statutory scheme prescribing the procedure for making initial bail and detention decisions, § 3142(i) constitutes a limited safety valve provision, enabling courts to re-examine detention decisions "to the extent that the judicial officer determines such release to be necessary for preparation of the person's defense or for another compelling reason." 18 U.S.C. § 3142(i). Until recently, there was a relative paucity of case law construing for us what would constitute a "compelling reason" justifying the temporary release of a previously detained defendant. Of late, however, a rising tide of case law has construed the meaning and reach of § 3142(i) in the context of continuing custody decisions in the age of coronavirus.
From these cases a few guiding principles have emerged. First, the very nature of the standard prescribed by statute—which requires a showing of some "compelling reason" to warrant temporary release from custody—suggests that such motions must meet exacting standards and "the few courts that have ordered temporary release on the basis of such a condition have done so only 'sparingly' and typically in order 'to permit a defendant's release where, for example, he is suffering from a terminal illness or serious injuries[,]' " United States of America v. Lee, No. 19-CR-298 (KBJ), 2020 WL 1541049, at *3 (D.D.C. Mar. 30, 2020) (quoting United States v. Hamilton, No. 19-CR-54-01, 2020 WL 1323036, at *2 (E.D.N.Y. Mar. 20, 2020)).
Second, like the initial decision to detain, a determination of whether a movant has shown compelling reasons justifying temporary release is an individualized judgment which takes into account the unique circumstances of each case and each defendant. Thus, courts have allowed for temporary release where a defendant's specific circumstances presented a compelling and immediate need for release. For example, release of a defendant is permitted under § 3142(i) when that defendant is suffering from a terminal illness or serious injuries. See, e.g., United States v. Scarpa, 815 F. Supp. 88 (E.D.N.Y. 1993) (permitting release of defendant suffering from terminal AIDS that could no longer be managed by correctional authorities); see also United States v. Cordero Caraballo, 185 F. Supp. 2d 143 (D.P.R. 2002) (permitting release where defendant sustained "serious" and "grotesque" gunshot wounds, suffered a heart attack, underwent an emergency tracheotomy, was partially paralyzed, could not use his hands, and had open and infected wounds about his body, and where the United States Marshal's Service reused to take custody of him until his wounds closed).
There is a necessary corollary to this principle, calling for an individualized and specific showing of a compelling reason to satisfy the movant's burden of proof under § 3142(i). Cases construing § 3142(i) generally "have rejected emergency motions for release of otherwise healthy and potentially violent defendants based solely on the generalized risks that COVID-19 admittedly creates for all members of our society." United States v. Lee, No. 19-CR-298 (KBJ), 2020 WL 1541049, at *6 (D.D.C. Mar. 30, 2020) (citing United States v. Cox, No. 19-cr-271, 2020 WL 1491180 (D. Nev. Mar. 27, 2020)); United States v. Green, No. 19-cr-304, 2020 WL 1477679 (M.D. Fla. Mar. 26, 2020); United States v. Steward, No. 20-cr-52, 2020 WL 1468005 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 26, 2020); United States v. Hamilton, No. 19-cr-54, 2020 WL 1323036 (E.D.N.Y. Mar. 20, 2020); see also United States v. Clark, No. 19-40068-01-HLT, 2020 WL 1446895, at *3 (D. Kan. Mar. 25, 2020). Rather, at a minimum courts have typically required proof of a "[d]efendant's particular vulnerability to the disease [in order to] constitute a compelling reason for release under § 3142(i)." United States of Am. v. Keith Kennedy, No. 18-20315, 2020 WL 1493481, at *4 (E.D. Mich. Mar. 27, 2020), reconsideration denied sub nom. United States v. Kennedy, No. 18-20315, 2020 WL 1547878 (E.D. Mich. Apr. 1, 2020).
The United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit has very recently underscored for us the necessity of a more particularized showing of a compelling need for release beyond proof of the generalized risks posed by COVID-19 when a prisoner seeks release from jail. Addressing this question in another custodial setting, petitions for compassionate release from custody, the court of appeals stated in terms that are equally applicable here that:
We do not mean to minimize the risks that COVID-19 poses in the . . . prison system, particularly for inmates . . . . But the mere existence of COVID-19 in society and the possibility that it may spread to a particular prison alone cannot independently justify . . . release.United States of America v. Raia, No. 20-1033, 2020 WL 1647922, at *2 (3d Cir. Apr. 2, 2020).
Finally, any determination of whether a movant has established compelling reasons which now warrant temporary release from custody must take into account the important considerations of public safety and flight which animated the original decision to detain the offender pending trial. Thus, "in considering the propriety of temporary release, the court would need to balance the reasons advanced for such release against the risks that were previously identified and resulted in an order of detention." United States of America v. Cox, 2020 WL 1491180, *2 (D. Nev. Mar. 27, 2020). In practice, therefore, a decision on a motion seeking release under § 3142(i) entails an informed judgment assessing both individual health concerns and broader public safety interests. In reaching these judgments the court must:
[E]valuate at least the following factors: (1) the original grounds for the defendant's pretrial detention, (2) the specificity of the defendant's stated COVID-19 concerns, (3) the extent to which the proposed release plan is tailored to mitigate or exacerbate other COVID-19 risks to the defendant, and (4) the likelihood that the defendant's proposed release would increase COVID-19 risks to others. The court will not necessarily weigh these factors equally, but will consider them as a whole to help guide the court's determination as to whether a "compelling reason" exists such that temporary release is "necessary." § 3142(i)United States v. Clark, No. 19-40068-01-HLT, 2020 WL 1446895, at *3 (D. Kan. Mar. 25, 2020).
In addition, a defendant seeking pretrial release must demonstrate that he does not pose a risk of flight or a danger to the community. This remains the case even in case such as this, where episodes of COVID-19 has been documented in the correctional institution where the defendant is housed. In such instances we are still enjoined to carefully consider the public safety and risk of flight considerations mandated by law which led to the initial detention of the defendant. Indeed, it appears that this may often be the determining factor for many defendants seeking pretrial release from such institutions. See, e.g., United States v. Gumora, 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 65749 (S.D.N.Y. Apr. 14, 2020) (denying release to defendant with HIV; asthma; high blood pressure; and various heart conditions including arrhythmia, tachycardia, and bradycardia despite an outbreak in the prison facility involving 13 confirmed cases because the defendant could not be trusted on conditions of release); United States v. Porter, 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 64060 (E.D. Mich. Apr. 13, 2020) (denying release to defendant with asthma and COPD despite some 184 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with at least two deaths because the defendant could not be trusted on release conditions); United States v. Passley, 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 62814 (E.D.N.Y. Apr. 9, 2020) (denying release to inmate in an institution with an outbreak of 12 individuals where defendant had a compromised immune system, but presented as a flight risk who had violated conditions of release in the past); United States v. Conley, 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 66610 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 31, 2020) (defendant not released despite multiple inmates testing positive and his underlying medical conditions because he could not be trusted on conditions of release). But see United States v. McDuffie, 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 59594 (S.D.N.Y. Apr. 3, 2020) (granting presentence release for defendant with rheumatoid arthritis, high blood pressure, and cardiac issues where cases in the correctional institution increased rapidly in a few days and where conditions of release could be imposed to assure safety); and United States v. Jackson, 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 68045 (E.D.N.Y. Apr. 17, 2020) (granting release where defendant had asthma with an inhaler, could be trusted on release conditions, and facility saw a dramatic increase in cases with inadequate testing capabilities).
It is against this statutory backdrop that we evaluate the instant request for temporary release from custody.
B. The Defendant's Motion for Temporary Release Will Be Denied.
Our analysis of this motion begins with the proposition that "[w]hile the COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to exceptional and exigent circumstances that require the prompt attention of the courts, it is imperative that they continue to carefully and impartially apply the proper legal standards that govern each individual's particular request for relief." United States v. Roeder, No. 20-1682, 2020 WL 1545872, at *3 (3d Cir. Apr. 1, 2020). In this case, our careful and impartial application of the legal standards mandated by § 3142(i), requires us to assess both the public safety grounds for the defendant's initial detention as well as: (1) the specificity of the defendant's stated COVID-19 concerns; (2) the extent to which the proposed release plan is tailored to mitigate or exacerbate other COVID- 19 risks to the defendant; and (3) the likelihood that the defendant's proposed release would increase COVID-19 risks to others.
Turning first to an individualized evaluation of the defendant's COVID-19 concerns, our assessment begins with a recognition of the unprecedented health care crisis presented by the coronavirus pandemic. However, it is clear that under § 3142(i), we cannot grant release of a defendant previously deemed to be a danger to public safety or a risk of flight "based solely on the generalized risks that COVID-19 admittedly creates for all members of our society." United States v. Lee, No. 19-CR-298 (KBJ), 2020 WL 1541049, at *6 (D.D.C. Mar. 30, 2020). This is true even when an institution has experienced confirmed cases of COVID-19 among staff and inmates. See e.g., Porter, 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 64060; Passley, 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 62814.
In the instant case, Alvarez-Rivera contends that he suffers from asthma, but there is no indication that he takes any medication for this condition or that he experiences difficulties because of his condition. Quite the contrary, the evidence from Alvarez-Rivera's paramour indicated that for the past decade he has been completely asymptomatic and has not required any treatment whatsoever for this alleged condition. Thus, Alvarez-Rivera's asthma claim rests upon the thinnest of reeds, an unsubstantiated claim by the defendant of an ailment which requires no treatment. Moreover, simply alleging the existence of a medical condition, while a prerequisite for a motion for temporary release, standing alone is not sufficient to justify release. See, e.g., United States v. Brown, Crim. No. 1:19-CR-259 (M.D. Pa. May 4, 2020) (denying pretrial release for defendant suffering from asthma, high blood pressure, diabetes, and various mental health issues); United States v. Serrano-Munoz, Crim. No. 1:17-CR-233 (M.D. Pa. Apr. 29, 2020) (denying release for defendant with type-2 diabetes and high blood pressure); United States v. Young, 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 76573 (N.D. Ind. Apr. 30, 2020) (denying release for diabetes, diabetic retinopathy, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol). These cases are particularly important to our analysis here, as the defendant has not provided us with medical records concerning his condition.
Moreover, the defendant does not provide us with any evidence to suggest that his proposed release plan to a third-party custodian would mitigate his risk to exposure of COVID-19 or the risk to others. Rather, the motion asserts generally that Dauphin County Prison has recently tested its staff and inmates and have discovered at least 21 confirmed cases of COVID-19 within the prison, and he asserts that the prison does not allow for proper compliance with procedures that tend to limit the spread or exposure of the virus. Indeed, according to updates from the United States Marshals Service, Dauphin County Prison has seen at least twenty-one confirmed cases of COVID-19 in its facility. Exacerbating this development is the fact that these cases are largely comprised of asymptomatic carriers—those notoriously difficult to diagnose and contain.
While this development has given us pause, and indeed makes this a somewhat closer case, we must still weigh these health concerns against the substantial public safety considerations which led us to order the defendant's detention in the first instance. In this case, the following factors, unique to the defendant, compelled the decision to detain the defendant as a risk of flight and danger to the community. On this score, we specifically found that the following factors supported the pre-trial detention of the defendant: the weight of the evidence against him was strong, he was subject to a lengthy period of incarceration if convicted, his lack of legal status in the United States, and the fact that he would be subject to removal or deportation following any period of incarceration. In addition, Alvarez-Rivera faces a unique situation in that if he were to be released, he would be mandated to return to the New York State Department of Corrections to continue serving his state sentence, which is not set to expire until August of 2020. The defendant's motion does not address these very serious and grave considerations that ultimately led to the defendant's detention in the first instance, nor does it consider the risk to the community should the motion for release be granted.
In addition, we note that Section 3142 contains a provision that allows for the temporary detention of a defendant due to his or her immigration status. 18 U.S.C. § 3142(d)(1)(B). During the defendant's hearing, there was conflicting testimony as to the defendant's citizenship, mainly whether the defendant was born in Puerto Rico or in the Dominican Republic. The preponderance of the evidence, including the testimony of Alvarez-Rivera's long-time paramour, identified the defendant as a Dominican national who has masqueraded as a Puerto Rican citizen in the past. Following the hearing, we were provided with an update as to the defendant's immigration status, which indicated that he is a citizen of the Dominican Republic and currently has a detainer against him from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which would subject him to immediate deportation should he be released. Thus, the provision of Section 3142, which provides for the temporary detention of a defendant who is not a citizen of the United States, supports our determination that the defendant shall remain detained pending his trial on these federal charges.
Indeed, if we granted this motion and released the defendant, he would be subject to two separate detainers, since Alvarez-Rivera is wanted by immigration officials and also has an undischarged term of imprisonment which he must serve in New York state. Therefore, release of Alvarez-Rivera would actually impede his defense and could frustrate the goals of criminal justice by ether housing him in a prison in New York remote from this court as he awaited trial or could lead to his deportation and removal from the United States. By its terms § 3142(i) permit the temporary release of the person, "to the extent that the judicial officer determines such release to be necessary for preparation of the person's defense or for another compelling reason." 18 U.S.C. § 3142 (i). Since Alvarez-Rivera's release from federal custody would likely result either in his transfer to prison in New York, which would impede defense preparations, or deportation, which would defeat the purpose of the criminal law, we cannot find that the requirements of § 3142 (i) are satisfied here.
Finally, to the extent the defendant raises Eighth Amendment concerns relating to a prisoner's incarceration in a custodial setting during this pandemic, this argument fails as a matter of law for several reasons. At the outset, the defendant's reliance upon the Eighth Amendment is misplaced. As a legal matter it is well-settled that "[p]retrial detainees are not within the ambit of the Eighth Amendment but are entitled to the protections of the Due Process clause." Boring v. Kozakiewicz, 833 F.2d 468, 471 (3d Cir. 1987). We note that the defendant is a pretrial detainee, and as such, does not have a claim under the Eighth Amendment regarding the conditions at Dauphin County Prison. See Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386, 392 n. 6 (1989) (holding that "the Eighth Amendment's Cruel and Unusual Punishments Clause does not apply until 'after sentence and conviction'"); Hubbard v. Taylor, 399 F.3d 150, 166 (3d Cir. 2005). Rather, a pretrial detainee's claims regarding the conditions of his confinement fall within the ambit of the Fifth Amendment's Due Process clause, and the proper inquiry is "whether [the conditions of confinement] amount to punishment of the detainee." Bell v. Wolfish, 441 U.S. 520, 535 (1979); see also Davis v. City of Philadelphia, 284 F.Supp.3d 744, 752 (E.D. Pa. 2018); Umarbaev v. Lowe, 2020 WL 1814157 (M.D. Pa. April 9, 2020) (Kane, J.).
On this score, it is well-settled that pretrial detention under 18 U.S.C. § 3142, on its face, does not violate the Fifth Amendment Due Process Clause. United States v. Salerno, 481 U.S. 739, 742 (1987). Rather, only when the conditions amount to punishment, and the detention is not reasonably related to a legitimate penological goal, are a pretrial detainee's due process rights violated. See Bell, 441 U.S. at 539; Habbard, 399 F.3d at 159-60. Thus, "[a]bsent showing of an expressed intent to punish on the part of the detention facility officials, ... if a particular condition or restriction of pretrial detention is reasonably related to a legitimate governmental objective, it does not, without more, amount to 'punishment.'" United States v. Cook, No. 3:16-CR-312 (M.D. Pa. April 22, 2020) (Mehalchick, M.J.) (quoting Bell, 441 U.S. at 538-39). Specifically, in the context of the recent COVID-19 pandemic, several courts have declined to hold that a pretrial detainee's due process rights are violated simply because they are incarcerated and at a higher risk of contracting the virus. See e.g., Cook, No. 3:16-CR-312 (M.D. Pa. April 22, 2020) (Mehalchick, M.J.); United States v. Frost, 2020 WL 1899561, at *4 (E.D. Mich. April 17, 2020); United States v. Leake, 2020 WL 1905150, at *5 (D.D.C. April 17, 2020); United States v. Stevens, 2020 WL 1888968, at *5 (E.D. Pa. April 16, 2020).
Here, the defendant asserts that the conditions at Dauphin County Prison are inadequate and further expose pretrial detainees to the dangers of contracting COVID-19. While a number of the conditions alleged by Alvarez-Rivera would clearly be uncomfortable and unpleasant, nothing in the defendant's presentation supports an inference that prison officials are imposing these conditions on the defendant as a punitive measure. Quite the contrary, the Government has provided us with updates from the Dauphin County Prison that outline the precautionary steps taken by prison officials to combat the contraction and spread of COVID-19 in the prison. While there have recently been several confirmed cases of COVID-19 from Dauphin County Prison, the prison took steps to quarantine these individuals and have implemented testing procedures for the inmates and staff within the prison. Thus, we find that the defendant has not shown that the conditions of his confinement at Dauphin County Prison have violated his right to Due Process under the Fifth Amendment.
Further, even if we accepted the defendant's invitation to assess the defendant's challenge to these prison conditions under the Eighth Amendment, this claim would still fail. Under the Eighth Amendment, a prisoner's rights are violated when prison officials are deliberately indifferent to a serious risk of harm. Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 834 (1994). In short, when "analyzing deliberate indifference, a court must determine whether the prison official 'acted or failed to act despite his knowledge of a substantial risk of harm.' A prisoner plaintiff must prove that the prison official 'knows of and disregards an excessive risk to inmate health or safety.'" Garvey v. Martinez, 2010 WL 569852, at *6 (M.D. Pa. Feb. 11, 2010) (quoting Farmer, 511 U.S. at 837, 841)). As we have noted:
"When an Eighth Amendment claim arises in the context of a challenge to conditions of confinement, we must determine if prison officials acted with 'deliberate indifference' to the inmate's health. Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 837, 114 S.Ct. 1970, 128 L.Ed.2d 811 (1994). The objective inquiry is whether the inmate was 'denied the minimal civilized measure of life's necessities.' Hudson, 503 U.S. at 9, 112 S.Ct. 995, 117 L.Ed.2d 156." Fuentes v. Wagner, 206 F.3d 335, 345 (3d Cir.2000).Smith v. Donate, No. 4:10-CV-2133, 2012 WL 3537017, at *13 (M.D. Pa. June 15, 2012), report and recommendation adopted, No. 4:10-CV-2133, 2012 WL 3537008 (M.D. Pa. Aug. 15, 2012). Further, it is undeniably clear that "the Constitution does not mandate comfortable prisons." Rhodes v. Chapman, 452 U.S. 337, 349, 101 S. Ct. 2392, 2400, 69 L. Ed. 2d 59 (1981).
Judged by these exacting standards, Alvarez-Rivera's Eighth Amendment conditions of confinement claims fail. On this score, the evidence indicates that the prison officials have not been deliberately indifferent to the defendant's needs, but rather are taking affirmative steps to prevent the outbreak and spread of COVID-19. While there have been some twenty-one confirmed cases of COVID-19, the officials at Dauphin County Prison have suspended regular and contact visitation, have implemented aggressive hand-sanitizing protocols, and continue to educate inmates on ways to stay safe and healthy. Protocols have been put into place throughout the prison to comply with the CDC guidelines, including keeping inmates contained in their respective housing units, allowing them out of their cells in groups of ten people or less, and giving them tablets to use in order to communicate with individuals outside of the prison. Simply put, the prison has implemented specific health and safety protocols to combat the outbreak and spread of COVID-19 in Dauphin County Prison, actions that can hardly be characterized as "deliberate indifference" that would constitute an Eighth Amendment violation.
Finally, we note that this very general and sweeping argument attacking custodial conditions at this facility is in our estimation simply too broad in its reach to constitute the type of specific compelling reason for release contemplated by § 3142(i). Indeed, if we embraced the view espoused here by the defendant, we would be compelled to release all detainees housed at this facility simply because of the general conditions of their confinement. Since Alvarez-Rivera has not shown that those conditions of confinement are imposed in a punitive manner or deny detainees the minimal civilized measure of life's necessities, we will decline this invitation.
Accordingly, given that these grave concerns have not been addressed or overcome by the defendant, we will deny the motion for temporary release.
IV. Conclusion
Weighing and balancing these countervailing considerations we conclude that the safety concerns that led us to order the detention of the defendant pending trial have not been overcome by the defendant's generalized concerns regarding the spread of or exposure to the COVID-19 virus while incarcerated. Based upon these findings, the defendant's motion for temporary release pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3142(i) will be DENIED. "Because the Court is mindful that both the conditions in . . . jail and the COVID-19 pandemic itself are both rapidly evolving, it will entertain a renewed request for release if—at some point in the future—it becomes clear" that there are compelling reasons that justify the defendant's release. United States of America v. Lee, No. 19-CR-298 (KBJ), 2020 WL 1541049, at *7 (D.D.C. Mar. 30, 2020). Therefore, this order is entered without prejudice to renewal of this motion at some future date should the defendant's circumstances materially change.
An appropriate order follows.
/s/ Martin C . Carlson
Martin C. Carlson
United States Magistrate Judge ORDER
In accordance with the accompanying Memorandum Opinion, the defendant's motion for temporary release pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3142(i) is DENIED. "Because the Court is mindful that both the conditions in . . . jail and the COVID-19 pandemic itself are both rapidly evolving, it will entertain a renewed request for release if—at some point in the future—it becomes clear" that there are compelling reasons that justify the defendant's release. United States of America v. Lee, No. 19-CR-298 (KBJ), 2020 WL 1541049, at *7 (D.D.C. Mar. 30, 2020). Therefore, this order is entered without prejudice to renewal of this motion at some future date should the defendant's circumstances materially change.
So ordered this 27th day of May 2020.
/s/ Martin C . Carlson
Martin C. Carlson
United States Magistrate Judge