NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — The mother of an inmate at the Tennessee Prison for Women who is diagnosed with COVID-19 is asking for her daughter to be released, citing her daughter's underlying health problems.
Charlotte Jennings has been communicating with her daughter, LaTasha Hurtch, who is an inmate at the prison.
Hurtch, 29, has been in prison for five years of a 10-year sentence for simple robbery and carjacking.
She’s up for parole in November, and facing underlying health conditions along with the Coronavirus, Hurtch's mom wants the state to release her early, fearing that Hurtch may die in prison.
"I’m begging whoever is in charge of letting her out, to let her come home," Jennings said. "Let me take care of her and get her well."
But Nashville defense attorney David Raybin says options of moving up a parole eligibility date are extremely limited. Only Governor Bill Lee could approve such a move, and only on a case by case basis. Because Tennessee does not have options for compassionate prison release provisions in law, neither a judge, nor TDOC, nor the Tennessee Parole Board can move up a parole elegibility date.
To combat COVID-19, TDOC says it’s testing all inmates, it’s suspended visitation, and isolating positive testing inmates in infirmaries.
