Allegheny County Jail

Allegheny County Jail
The current Allegheny County Jail
General information
Location	950 Second Avenue, Downtown, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Coordinates	40°26′05″N 79°59′37″W
Year(s) built	1995

The current Allegheny County Jail opened on April 29, 1995 at 950 Second Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. This facility replaced the old jail that is located on Ross Street and Fifth Avenue in downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Warden Orlando L. Harper controversies

Orlando Harper, currently serving as the Warden of the Allegheny County Jail, has been at the center of several controversies during his tenure, which began on October 15, 2012. Harper was appointed by Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald.

Use-of-force training and weapons contracts

Concerns have been raised over Harper's introduction of new use-of-force training and weapons contracts with the Corrections Special Applications Unit (C-SAU) and Lightfield Less Lethal Research. Critics argue that these contracts have led to the introduction of flashbangs, rubber slugs, and other projectiles into the jail environment.

Union no-confidence petition

A "no confidence" petition was initiated against Harper by the president of the union representing the jail's correctional officers. Complaints include overworking, understaffing, and safety issues.

Inmate conditions

Criticism has also been levelled at the conditions within the jail, with complaints from inmates about the presence of cockroaches and bugs in their food.

Jail death rate

Controversy has arisen over the death rate in the Allegheny County Jail. One report suggests that the death rate in the jail is nearly twice the national average, contradicting Harper's claims.

Dismissal of Ruth Howze

In August 2013, Harper dismissed Ruth Howze, the former administrator of alternative housing for jail inmates. Little explanation was provided for the action, leading to Howze planning legal action against the county.

2021 Corrections Collective officer survey

In the spring of 2021, the Corrections Collective, a community-based advocacy group, conducted a survey among correctional officers at Allegheny County Jail. The survey contained 14 questions and was responded to by 98 correctional officers.

Key findings from the survey included:

• More than 90% of respondents disagreed or strongly disagreed with the statement "I feel valued and respected as a CO at the Allegheny County Jail."
• All respondents disagreed or strongly disagreed that each shift is adequately staffed with correctional officers.
• Only 14% believed they received adequate training to perform their duties.
• Nearly 93% of respondents claimed that the administration's practice of forcing officers to work overtime due to understaffing disrupted their family life, while almost 90% said it negatively impacted their physical or mental health.
• The most prevalent themes in the open-ended questions were forced overtime, fear and intimidation tactics, and lack of respect and communication from the administration.

The survey results were presented to the Jail Oversight Board at its June meeting, where they sparked public comments and criticism of Warden Orlando Harper. Harper defended his administration during a live interview on the Pittsburgh Cable News Channel in July, stating that he maintained an open-door policy and the jail provides sufficient staffing, training, and health care. However, some former inmates called in to challenge his claims. Harper faced controversy over his decision to hire contractors for use of force training and weapons for corrections officers, a move opposed by some board members and advocacy groups.

Jail Oversight Board

The Jail Oversight Board of Allegheny County is a statutory body that oversees the operation and maintenance of the Allegheny County Jail and its alternative housing facilities. The board's responsibilities also include overseeing the health and safekeeping of its incarcerated residents, and the confirmation of the County Executive's selection of a warden.

The board is composed of nine members, including elected officials, judges, and citizen members. These members are:

• The County Chief Executive
• Two judges of the Court of Common Pleas
• The County Sheriff
• The County Controller
• The President of County Council
• Three citizen members.

Meetings are held at least once per month, usually on the first Thursday, in the Gold Room of the Allegheny County Courthouse. These meetings are open to the public and are streamed live on YouTube. The public can submit comments or questions online prior to the meetings or sign up for public comment before each meeting.

In addition to regular meetings, the board receives monthly reports on various aspects of the jail's operations, such as segregated housing, use of force, deaths, grievances, and health care.

Community-based coalition the Corrections Collective provides resources and support for incarcerated individuals, their families, and communities affected by arrest and incarceration.

Public access to records and documents regarding the Board and Allegheny County Jail is provided by the Controller’s Office. This includes meeting minutes, the warden’s monthly reports, and other jail-related records.

Criticism of Rich Fitzgerald's absence from Jail Oversight Board meetings

Rich Fitzgerald, the Allegheny County Executive who has served from 2012–present, has drawn criticism for his lack of attendance at the Jail Oversight Board meetings, despite it being a legal requirement for his position. The criticism originates from various sources:

• Community groups and activists have demanded Fitzgerald attend these meetings and take accountability for the jail's conditions and policies, especially given recent lawsuits, deaths, use of force incidents, and a COVID-19 outbreak. Protests and marches have been organized to pressure Fitzgerald.
• Judge Kim Berkeley Clark, the president judge of the Court of Common Pleas and the chair of the Jail Oversight Board, has commented that Fitzgerald's attendance would help the board address issues at the jail. Clark believes that Fitzgerald's absence sends a negative message about his concern for the jail and its residents.
• Terri Klein, a citizen member of the Jail Oversight Board, has opposed some of Fitzgerald's decisions, such as the hiring of a use of force training contractor and the provision of weapons for corrections officers. Following Klein's nomination for replacement by a former jail warden, allegations of Fitzgerald's retaliatory motives have surfaced.
• The Pittsburgh Current, a local news outlet, reported on Fitzgerald's legal obligation to attend the meetings and his consistent failure to do so for over a decade. The report alleges Fitzgerald's control over jail administration and his influence over his appointee board members.

Fitzgerald has defended his absence by stating that he sends a representative to the meetings and that he meets regularly with the county manager who oversees the jail. He also claims commitment to improving the jail and reducing incarceration.

2023 protests and incidents

Protests over conditions

On a Saturday afternoon in May 2023, a group of protestors rallied against the conditions at the Allegheny County Jail. The police reported an assembly of 50 to 60 people on the 400 block of Grant Street, Downtown, shortly before 2:30 PM. The protestors then marched down Fifth Avenue. According to a flyer, the gathering was sponsored by the Alliance for Police Accountability.

Inmate death

In a separate incident, an inmate was found unresponsive by correctional staff and died days after being booked into the Allegheny County Jail. County officials reported that a drug screen was administered to the man, indicating the presence of several substances, including opiates, fentanyl, cocaine, and other drugs. Following the drug screen results, the inmate was put through a detox protocol by the jail's health care staff.

List of wardens

The following individuals have served as warden of the Allegheny County Jail:

• Leonard Dever (1995–2005)
• Calvin Lightfoot (2005–2007)
• Ramsey Elias (2007–2010)
• Daniel Onorato (interim, 2010)
• Ramon Rustin (2010–2014)
• Orlando Harper (2014–2023)
• Shane Dady (2023–present)

Old Allegheny County Jail

Old Allegheny County Jail

City of Pittsburgh Historic Structure
Pittsburgh Landmark – PHLF
The old Allegheny County Jail
Location of the old Allegheny County Jail in Pittsburgh
Location	Ross Street and Fifth Avenue (Downtown), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Coordinates	40°26′19″N 79°59′44″W
Built/founded	1886
Architect	H. H. Richardson
CPHD designated	December 26, 1972
PHLF designated	1968

The old Allegheny County Jail was part of a complex (along with the Allegheny County Courthouse) designed by H. H. Richardson. The buildings are considered among the finest examples of the Romanesque Revival style for which Richardson is well known.

The jail was built by the Norcross Brothers between 1884 and 1886 (the year of Richardson's death), and the courthouse was finished in 1888 under the supervision of Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge. The two structures are linked across Ross Street by a "Bridge of Sighs" (so called for its similarity to the famous bridge in Venice, Italy). Additions were made 1903–1905 by Frederick J. Osterling.

In 1892, anarchist Alexander Berkman was held here awaiting trial for the attempted murder of industrialist H. C. Frick. In 1902, condemned brothers Jack and Ed Biddle escaped from the jail with the aid of the warden's wife. (The 1984 film Mrs. Soffel, based on the incident, includes shots of the jail exterior and then-interior scenes, and the production took 3 days to finish and some prisoners were used as extras in the movie.)

The jail and courthouse were added to the List of City of Pittsburgh historic designations on December 26, 1972. They were added to the List of National Historic Landmarks on May 11, 1976.

Gallery

• 
  The old Allegheny County Jail (at left) and its "Bridge of Sighs" spanning Ross Street.
• 
  The current Allegheny County Jail at 950 Second Avenue in Pittsburgh, PA