The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office is suspending work furlough and work release programs in an attempt to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
It will affect all programs that are active at Maricopa County sheriff’s Jails as of 6 p.m. Friday.
The Sheriff’s Office said in a statement, the suspension is intended to keep its staff and inmate population safe.
Work furlough and release programs allow eligible offenders to maintain or keep a job outside jail, while also serving a sentence. Suspending them reduces the number of inmates leaving and entering the system each day.
County Attorney Allister Adel is working with several agencies to allow those currently in the work furlough program to remain at home during this time.
