Abstract
[This is an excerpt.] Nationwide, state and local public health officials working to protect the public from COVID-19 are on the receiving end of threatening and harassing conduct for simply fulfilling their duty to protect the public health. In response, the Network conducted research to examine whether the states and Washington, D.C., have criminal statutes punishing individuals who impede public health officials’ duties with such behavior. Our research is presented in this chart. Many states have adopted statutes to protect public officials generally; included here are those with broad enough language to include public health officials. However, we have also included the three states with laws that if broadened, would encompass public health officials, namely, Illinois, North Carolina, and Vermont. While 35 states and Washington, D.C., have such a statute, the remaining 15 states either do not have a statute protecting government officials in these circumstances or do not have one protecting public health officials. Of the 35 states and Washington, D.C., all but two, Louisiana and Oklahoma, include protections for state and local officials. [To read more, click View Resource.]
This resource is found in our Actionable Strategies for Government: Ensuring Workers' Physical and Mental Health (Strengthen Occupational Safety and Health Policies).
