Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry has obtained an extended restraining order to keep inmates exposed to rare tuberculosis detained. The order was granted by a Baton Rouge judge and will keep the inmates detained for an additional 15 days. This decision comes after an initial 10-day restraining order was issued to prevent the release of the inmates who were potentially exposed to the infectious disease.
The inmates were reportedly exposed to tuberculosis while at the Richwood Correctional Center in Monroe, Louisiana. The facility has been dealing with an outbreak of the rare strain of tuberculosis, and there are concerns that the inmates could spread the disease if released back into the community. Attorney General Landry argued that the potential risk to public health outweighs the inmates’ right to release.
Landry’s office has been working with the Louisiana Department of Health to test all inmates and staff at the facility for tuberculosis. The extended restraining order will allow for further testing and monitoring of the inmates to ensure that the disease does not spread further. Landry emphasized the importance of taking precautions to protect the health and safety of the public.
The decision to keep the inmates detained has sparked controversy, with some civil rights advocates arguing that it infringes on the inmates’ rights. However, Landry maintains that the restraining order is necessary to prevent the potential spread of a dangerous and infectious disease. The situation highlights the challenges faced by officials in balancing public health concerns with individual rights, particularly in the midst of a public health crisis.
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