Inside the Allegheny County Jail: Warden responds to criticism
Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 got an inside look at the Allegheny County Jail on Wednesday as the warden fights back against recent criticism over conditions and treatment of inmates.
A look inside the jail: Watch the video in the report above.
Warden Orlando Harper said his staff is working to make sure they address each issue raised in a survey conducted last fall. In the survey, inmates were asked about things like food safety, temperature and mental health care.
“We provide health care at our jail, and 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,” Harper said.
On the tour, jail officials showed the two suicide resistance blankets each inmate receives along with hygiene kits and clothing. We also saw the process inmates go through after they are arrested. Officials said that includes a healthcare department where inmates are assessed both physically and mentally.
One of the facility’s floors is dedicated to re-entry services, including classrooms for both juveniles and adults. Our crew got to walk through the jail’s kitchen where meals were being prepared. Harper said they are currently accepting bids for new food service vendors.
“We are working diligently to make sure we address each issue that was brought to us from the survey,” Harper said.
Organizations including the Pennsylvania Interfaith Impact Network are raising concerns over the way inmates are being treated. The Rev. Richard Freeman is rallying people together to demand change.
Freeman talked about the concerns raised in the survey.
“These were not episodic. These were longitudinal things that are going on. These are human beings and when we have fellow human beings that are being mistreated, we have to do something. We will stay in this work until we get a resolution, and we want to do this across the board,” Freeman said.
The Allegheny County Jail Oversight Board is scheduled to meet Thursday. Before that begins, several groups are coming together to hold a rally.
