A key state official says New York’s prison agency is starting the process of releasing another slate of nonviolent offenders, a move that comes as the department has reported a rise in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks.

The state’s Department of Corrections and Community Supervision is starting the process of releasing prisoners with 90 days or less on their sentence and whose underlying crime was not a sex offense or a violent felony, said Melissa DeRosa, secretary to the governor, in a statement.