The Allegheny County Jail warden responded to concerns over inmate treatment inside the jail.In a sit-down interview with Pittsburgh's Action News 4, warden Orlando Harper explained what is being done to address the concerns.Jail warden responds: Watch the report in the video player above.“We collaborated with the Jail Oversight Board to do the survey, and one of the things that we wanted was to hear from our inmate populations as to what is needed,” Harper said.The survey he’s referring to was conducted in fall 2021 by the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Social Work. Inmates were asked about things like medical and mental health care, food safety, and temperature.“We are working diligently to make sure we address each issue that was brought to us from the survey,” Harper said.On Monday, Tim Stevens with the Black Political Empowerment Project (BPEP) announced a push for a full review of current conditions at the jail. BPEP's letter to County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, Harper and the Allegheny County Jail Oversight Board can be read here.“Mr. Stevens and other groups didn’t even give us the opportunity to be consulted first. I’ve never talked to Mr. Stevens, and it would’ve just been appreciated if at least I had some contact with him to discuss some of the concerns before a press conference was done, so that’s my frustration,” Harper said.Stevens raised concerns over food safety, unsanitary conditions, and recent inmate deaths.“Mr. Anthony Talotta, only 57 years of age, was found unresponsive in the jail on September 20 and died the next day in the hospital,” Stevens said.Harper said he can’t speak to that particular case due to pending litigation.In BPEP’s press conference, Stevens said there have been 17 deaths since April 2020, but an Allegheny County Jail spokesperson said there have been 13 inmates who died while in custody since January 2020.“Incarcerated individuals who come into our facility have a lot of medical issues from the start. These individuals have not had medical attention in years, so when they come to our facility, they’re in dire need of mental health issues, drug and alcohol issues, and serious medical issues,” Harper said. “I feel as though we are providing the services that we need for the incarcerated individuals coming into our facilities with all these medical issues.”Outside the jail Tuesday night, a volunteer, who goes by “MAN-E,” once an inmate of this jail, now offers support to inmates upon their release.“My biggest concern when I was in there and my biggest concern for the people who are in there is survival,” MAN-E said.The jail's full response to that survey, which details the efforts being made within the jail can be read below.The Allegheny County Jail regularly seeks input on the services we provide. We do this through focus groups and interviews conducted in partnership with the Department of Human Services (DHS). We were pleased to partner with the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Social Work on this survey. As reported by DHS and the School of Social Work representatives, this survey was conducted during a highly unusual time in the jail’s history. In the fall of 2021, the number of COVID cases in the community and the jail were again spiking, requiring additional restrictions as a means to minimize the spread of the virus within the facility. This included lockdowns, mandatory masking, physical distancing and other measures following CDC guidelines as well as recommendations from our health care provider, the state departments of Corrections and Health, and our local Health Department. To give perspective, over half of people booked in the Allegheny County Jail stay less than 15 days. Accordingly, the results likely overrepresent those whose stay is longer than that and may not represent the population with a shorter say, as they may have differing needs. Nonetheless, much can be learned from this population. The results are valued and are being used as a tool to further enhance the services provided to incarcerated individuals. Following are responses to the items highlighted in the survey:Basic NeedsAs the jail does provide basic items to those incarcerated at the facility, we were somewhat surprised to see the results that suggest that residents of the jail overwhelmingly report “purchasing items from the commissary that are considered necessities.” While this may be a matter of personal preference regarding types or brand of basic hygiene items, we will continue to gather information on those purchases. With that data, we can determine whether there are adjustments that could or should be made to what is provided.As a starting point, during the intake process, all individuals receive:· Two (2) undershirts· Two (2) pairs of socks· Two (2) pairs of underwear· Two (2) jail uniforms · One (1) bath towel· One (1) pair of sandals· One (1) pair of tennis shoes· One (1) hygiene kit containing a toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, soap, shampoo and shaving cream Toilet paper and razors are available on the pods at no cost to incarcerated individuals. The jail also maintains an inventory of soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes and deodorant on all pods, which are restocked on weekly and monthly schedules. If a pod runs low on any items, the supply department will send additional items to meet that request. Additional hygiene options are available for purchase from commissary. Through a review earlier this year, it was determined that a wider variety and supply of feminine hygiene products was needed. The expanded inventory of items is available at no cost to the incarcerated individual and are available during the intake process and always available on the female housing units. This concern was also brought up by the Jail Oversight Board earlier this year, and we were happy to report at that meeting that we had already altered our purchasing to address this need. This is just a small example of how we are using input, provided from a variety of sources, to make informed decisions about changes at the facility.Medical CareACJ medical care is administered through its contracted provider, Allegheny Health Network (AHN), and supplemented by non-provider medical staff employed by the county or contracted through agency services. ACJ incarcerated individuals have in-house access to dialysis, dental, x-ray/radiology, physical therapy, optometry, orthopedic, OB/GYN, wound care, clinical and laboratory. If an individual needs additional medical care beyond what is provided in-house, AHN coordinates that care.Medical emergencies have a response time of four minutes or less. Individuals are either treated on the housing unit and transferred to the medical unit or sent out to the hospital if more advanced treatment is required. For routine medical care, during the timeframe in which the survey was conducted, 88 people awaited first-time appointments. That wait time was eight days. As of October 4, 2022, there are 41 sick calls with the longest wait time being eight days. There are also currently nine dental sick calls with a wait time of three days.Unfortunately, many come to the jail with severe dental neglect. The Allegheny County Jail will share the concerns raised in the survey with our partners about dental hygiene and care. These providers should use dental extraction only when clinically necessary and where no other options are possible. Medications prescribed by qualified medical personnel are provided to incarcerated individuals at no cost, including ibuprofen, acetaminophen and other over-the-counter medications. These and other additional over-the-counter medications are also available for purchase at the commissary if they are not prescribed. We acknowledge that sometimes medications are not passed at the designated time. There are many contributing factors other than staffing, including patients not being available because they’re in Court, or not reporting for or refusing medication. The jail is aware of this issue and will continue to work with our medical partners to address. We’d also like to clarify that when this does occur, the medical department prioritizes and ensures delivery of prescribed medications to incarcerated individuals, as it does for all medical decisions. These decisions are not made by correctional staff.Comfort (Temperature and Sleep Quality)Perceptions about the temperature of a room or facility are variable across populations. It is typical for some people to be cold while others are too warm. It is especially difficult to regulate temperature across a building of the age, size, and composition of the ACJ. When temperature concerns are raised, the jail does take readings and responds accordingly.And, while some residents of the jail report being too cold to sleep, the jail provides t-shirts, socks, jail uniforms and two blankets to keep residents warm. Additional items are available for purchase in the commissary; however, based on survey results, a review is being done to determine whether additional basic items should be provided.The Allegheny County Jail has advised medical staff of the survey results related to the timing of passing sleep medications. FoodSummit Food Services, LLC is the provider of meals to incarcerated individuals at the Allegheny County Jail. In response to a review of the food program in early 2020, the caloric intake was increased by 400 calories, or 14 percent, to 3,200 calories a day. It has and will continue to remain at that level. Previously, individuals were provided three meals a day of 2,800 calories, which is the national standard. The 3,200 caloric content does not include additional nutritional supplements, like those ordered by medical for pregnant women or individuals with other special medical needs. Meals are selected from a menu created by the vendor’s dietician and are designed to meet recommended dietary allowances and caloric intake requirements and include fruit at breakfast. Like with most county contracts, the ACJ food vendor is selected, awarded and contracted through a competitive bidding process. Under the contract, incarcerated individuals are provided a daily diet that meets nutritional requirements as determined by the vendor dietician.As noted, individuals receive three meals a day. The medical department will notify food service in writing of any inmate whose medical condition requires a special diet, and that individual will be offered an alternative meal that meets those dietary requirements. Alternative meals are also available for individuals whose religious beliefs require a special diet. The chaplain’s department will notify food service in writing about any inmate requiring a special religious diet. The jail’s current contract with Summit expires at the end of 2022. The meal service and commissary requests for proposals (RFP) are both out and will be awarded prior to the end of the year.The ACJ contracts with Fort Pitt Exterminators for pest control services, with kitchen facilities treated twice per week. Just like any other food facility, the kitchen is inspected regularly by the Health Department, and ACJ leadership has requested additional inspections when warranted. Staff have been instructed to increase monitoring of food lines to ensure that meals meet expected standards. Cleaning and sanitization practices have been enhanced through reemphasizing expectations and improving communication with the exterminating vendor, the food vendor and with correctional employees assigned to the kitchen. Mental HealthOf those participating in the survey, 50% of men and 44% of women reported having symptoms that would indicate mental illness. This is consistent with national trends that show high rates of mental health issues for people in jail. It stands to reason the safety precautions taken to protect people from COVID-19 would exacerbate feelings of isolation, depression, and anxiety. Comments suggest that being in a cell for long periods (necessitated by public health concerns) was hard on residents. While necessary during COVID, the county moved as fast as was safe out of lockdown and back to normal operations. The county is committed to providing mental health services to people while in jail and when a lockdown is not required, programming is provided to support people and reduce social isolation. Tablet Program The tablet program began in October 2020. The program provides numerous educational and entertainment opportunities and enables incarcerated individuals to maintain regular contact with loved ones through the purchase of video visitation. Additionally, beginning at the start of the pandemic, the jail also provided a free daily phone call of up to 10 minutes, and continues to do so.Survey results show that the county’s investment in tablets is yielding positive results. More than 94% of people answering this survey indicated daily use of the tablets and 71% said they used tablets to contact family and friends while in jail. Forty-nine percent of those surveyed indicated they were able to contact family and friends every day or almost every day. The Allegheny County Jail leadership will continue to look to build on the use of the tablets to increase engagement in programming, education and work-readiness programs.Incarcerated individuals have access to numerous free programs, services and other content, including but not limited to:· Educational programs including resume building· Calming/meditation guidance· Jail-specific resources including the handbook, commissary ordering service, requests and grievances, and notices related to elections or other informational items· Prison Rape Elimination Act information, and reporting of other crimes or concerns· Resources including eBooks and a law libraryIncarcerated individuals also have the option to purchase content including movies, television shows, sports, music, games, and more.ExerciseSurvey results showed dissatisfaction, particularly among female respondents, with the amount of exercise they were participating in. This is not surprising given the public health need for separation which resulted in lockdown and other protective measures which impacted, and continues to impact, out of cell time. Since the survey was taken, recreation has changed to split recreation, then full recreation, before moving back to split recreation after another spike in COVID cases. The jail seeks to provide incarcerated individuals as much out of cell time as possible while also providing a safe environment that minimizes spread during the pandemic.Individuals have access to cards, games, books, tablets and television in the pod common area and basketball in the pod gym during their recreation time. They are also able to walk and perform other exercises on the pod.ReadingThe ACJ introduced its eBook program in 2021 and now offers a library with nearly 700 eBooks and audiobooks. The jail takes inmate suggestions and requests into account when it curates its eBook offerings. The jail also maintains a library of 20,000 physical paperback books that are rotated on and off the housing units. The jail continues to build its eBook options. Treatment by StaffThe jail expects all incarcerated individuals to be treated with dignity and respect by all staff at the facility. Correctional officers’ training includes courses on interpersonal communication and verbal de-escalation, suicide prevention and intervention, and mental health first aid. These courses include empathy as a key component. Individuals can report complaints and grievances in person, in writing or through the tablets. Correctional officers and staff who witness incidents where individuals are not treated according to policy are required to report that interaction. Captains and sergeants are responsible for responding to those reports and addressing any issues raised on the levels to which they are assigned. ShowersShowers are available seven days per week on general housing units. During mitigation efforts, individuals had the option to shower every day during their recreation time. At minimum, individuals are required to shower three times per week, but are able to shower more frequently, even daily on general housing units. Individuals in disciplinary housing are to shower at least three times per week based on the posted shower schedule. All individuals are provided a hygiene kit when committed to the facility and soap is available on the pod. Individuals can also purchase additional items from commissary if there is preference for a different brand.ConclusionThis survey has been helpful in identifying the needs that are most pressing according to those who are, or were, incarcerated here. While most of the issues raised were known, this survey provides additional detail and heightened attention to those concerns. Moving forward, we will conduct additional surveys to continue to provide information on the most pressing needs, and to best serve the incarcerated population.