allegheny county jail complaints

Jail Oversight Board members cited that the learned about this incident from folks in the jail, not from the warden, continuing a pattern of secrecy by jail leadership including the warden. Since his admission in August 2019, Porter has spent almost his entire time at the jail in administrative custody because staff fears that his vision impairment would pose a problem for him in general population, the lawsuit said. "Sometimes medications are late and I'm going to leave it at that," Harper told JOB members. On April 27, 2022, a letter was published. due to continuing severe staff shortages. The lawsuit includes an allegation that Harper ordered staff in the mens Restricted Housing Unit to withhold privileges or use force against anyone requesting mental health care to compel the person requesting help to be silent.. he has also alienated his staff and the public, and lacks the management skills to direct the jails 560 employees. endobj The video speaks for itself; this is an unjustifiable assault from behind on a person who is handcuffed that included the use of a dangerous electro-shock weapon, wrote attorney Bret Grote. More questions arise about Allegheny County Jail contractor, including He moved his cot to the center of his cell, on the floor and away from the walls where its coldest. On January 27, 2023, it was reported that. The jail will soon be heated by steam heat through an energy plant located on its property, installed by Peoples Natural Gas and owned by the county, per a contract signed in late 2019. In addition, Kurin noted that they spoke at length with former corrections officers and health care staff members. The statistics show. On August 14th, 2022, it was a reported that a fifth person has died at the jail this year, 17 total since early 2020. On February 27, 2023, lawyers in a federal lawsuit against the jail stated that, . On December 11th, 2020, 15 former Allegheny County Jail, , describing impossible workloads, insufficient staffing, being directed to do tasks that they worried threatened their medical licenses and management they denounced as hostile and underqualified., In April 2019, Representative Summer Lee and others spoke out about the treatment of people with drug addictions, including the experience of, . Its long overdue, said Bret Grote, the legal director for the Abolitionist Law Center, one of the organizations that filed the complaint. The lawsuit seeks injunctive relief to prohibit the staff from continuing to violate the plaintiffs rights, to require the jail to provide adequate mental health care, and to prevent staff from punishing plaintiffs when they seek help. Later in August 2021, incarcerated individuals signed affidavits alleging that. The staff person then walked away without listening to his concerns.. TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox. Man being held at Allegheny County Jail dies Over 60 judicial misconduct complaints filed against Judge Anthony Comments on mental health included The place is very punitive mental torture. For much of that time, the complaint said, he has been denied contact visits, commissary and phone privileges, preventing him from speaking with his mother who has terminal cancer. The liaison may also receive complaints for follow-up through a JOB member and shall investigate and report directly back to the JOB with any findings, observations, and/or resolutions. County officials should furthermore consider how to better make use of the jails $80+ million budget by redirecting some of that funding to social services like healthcare and mental health care. The first photo allegedly shows frozen blood in the ground meat being served. The liaison will provide the JOB monthly reports of complaints regarding ACJ and all other alternative housing facilities. Jail Oversight Board (JOB) Liaison -HR Careers Preliminary Arraignment 7. On June 10, 2022, Pittsburgh City-Paper reported on, of people with psychiatric disabilities in the jail. 3 0 obj to punish and torture folks held at the Allegheny County Jail despite the voter referendum banning the practice in 2021. , now the 14th death at the jail since early 2020. Harper also showed hostility to other questions regarding staffing and visitation at the jail, refusing to answer questions publicly saying he will only discuss privately (quite possibly a violation of Sunshine Act). x[Yo~7@>\i%( The employees union representing staff at the jail then. Those control the heat in a few cells. The lawsuit alleges that the jails policies under Warden Harper do not properly treat folks suffering from mental health issues and suicidal depression, leading directly to Buceks death. While escorting Mr. Castaphany across the 8E pod to suicide watch on 5C, corrections officers and others began singing Oh, Christmas Tree. On June 2, 2022, the Abolitionist Law Center held a rally outside of the Jail Oversight Board monthly meeting to ask , The Jail has so far refused details about the deaths that have occurred in the jail and families are demanding answers. Some members of the Allegheny County Jail Oversight Board and other community members worry the jail could be in violation of a voter-approved referendum banning the use of solitary . A team of four people from the organization visited the jail from Nov. 1 to Nov. 3. Its absolutely intolerable and inhumane., On June 23, 2022, lawyers representing a trans-man. Help us inform people in the Pittsburgh region with more stories like this support our nonprofit newsroom with a donation. Complaints, she said, went unaddressed. Hansen notes that the use of force and solitary confinement in the jail is against national standards and protocols. The understaffing has many concerned it is putting both staff and incarcerated folks at risk. Harper is not the man for the job. Lawsuit says lack of treatment at Allegheny County Jail led to leg The jail is also consolidating folks held into a smaller number of pods rather than expanding to keep better distancing for Covid. The family of Gerald Thomas in particular demanded change at the jail, citing both the Warden but also Judge Anthony Marianis unjust rulings as resulting the in the death of Thomas. The report also said that officers checking on people incarcerated at the jail should be checking for signs of life and not just walking by each cell. Inmates at Allegheny County Jail sue over dangers to their mental However, follow-ups with the complainants showed that. From PublicSource: The lawsuit claims the jail does not provide meaningful treatment for individuals with mental health diagnoses and instead uses solitary confinement, irritant spray, a restraint chair and other forceful tactics.. Anyone who wishes to see an inmate will need to schedule an appointment online or via phone at (855) 208-7349. In early December 2021, days before a voter referendum banning solitary confinement is to go into effect. Jaquan Steadman, 24, is charged with fleeing, evading arrest, and multiple counts each of gun, drug possession and driving charges after Pittsburgh police say he fled a traffic stop. The Jail Oversight Board meeting that same day showed that those being held in the jail were not receiving commisary stipends previously approved, those held in the mental health wing were not receiving recreation time, and that the jail was still holding people in solitary confinement for weeks despite a citizen referendum that made the practice basically illegal. Local fugitive taken into custody after fleeing Renewal Center through Cohen has schizoaffective disorder, manic depressive disorder, anxiety, depression and PTSD. On March 7th, 2022, it was widely reported that another person, a man in his 20s, later identified as Gerald Thomas, had died after suffering a medical emergency at the Jail. Compared with other counties, PublicSource noted that Correctional experts PublicSource spoke to described Allegheny Countys redactions, which were made by Warden Orlando Harper, as. Castaphany has been in the jail since May 2019 and has anxiety, depression and PTSD. Private Complaint Filed 6. There are about 20 teenagers, ages 13 to 17, behind bars at the jail. What did you expect to happen?. You can contact Paula by email at pward@triblive.com or via Twitter . 1. without attempting to first contact or consult them. From slots to mills, big property owners aim for smaller property tax bills, Updated: Pittsburgh housing execs pledge Section 8 service improvements this year, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. On April 29, 2022, it was reported that Jerry Lee Ross, Jr., had died after being detained in the Allegheny County Jail, now the 14th death at the jail since early 2020. In August 2020, it was also made publicly known that. Can you spare 10 minutes to help improve the site? PITTSBURGH A local public interest law firm has filed 62 complaints against a county judge, who it accuses of "impatient, undignified, and discourteous" behavior and bias against Black men, older people, and people with mental or behavioral health issues. After mental health staff and correctional officers ignored his repeated requests for treatment, and an officer actually encouraged him to commit suicide, Mr. Howard felt that the only course of action to get help was to kill himself. Harper claimed that internal investigation showed that the complaints were incorrectly reported publicly. Why did it takes days and a letter from those in the jail before officials acted? 2023 Trib Total Media | All Rights Reserved, Woman dead after rollover crash in Churchill, Fire at Ross Township Chili's diverts customers, workers to restaurant's other sites, Visit the 5 major attractions in Washington County celebrating milestone anniversaries this year, Frazer police respond to hoax call about double shooting, Harmar police: Driver held at gunpoint after picking up hitchhiker, Aerosmith's farewell tour visits Pittsburgh in September, Pittsburgh Pop podcast: Talking Mulaneys Baby J on Netflix, Aerosmith returning to Pittsburgh one last time, Luke Combs kicks off summer concert season at Acrisure Stadium, Mountain climbers rappel down Mount Washington to clean up the hillside, Western Pennsylvania's trusted news source. 4 0 obj After receiving repeated complaints about the heat, one grassroots group organized a phone zap to call jail management en masse earlier this month. one woman held while pregnant who was forced to give birth in the jail, an intimate view of the atrocities that make up daily life in the Allegheny County Jail, how the jail was using the Inmate Welfare Fund, the jail was profiting from a new phone contract, the jails commissary contract was intentionally providing inadequate meals, inadequate treatment and dehumanizing and unlawful conditions, inadequate mental health care and treatment, couldnt retain medical staff and ultimately quit, lawsuit was filed against the jail on behalf of 3 people with disabilities who faced brutality, some baloney in some applesauce with a small 1oz bag of teddy grahams, a continued lack of communication and transparency, torture at the jail by excessive and punitive use of restraint chairs, The warden needs to be addressed. Please, Note: this was initially published as part of an. A local man who officials said has been on the run since mid-March is behind bars. I had to sleep every day with a blanket over my head. She described people cutting the bottom of their socks to use them as sleeves. Complaints; Resources; Frequently Asked Questions; On Election Day; Board of Elections; . Later that day, the jail released a statement on social media that the lack of heat was reported on a Saturday and not fixed until Tuesday marking at least 3-4 days without heat without any explanation or details beyond calling it an unspecified heating system issue. According to the Post-Gazette: Deuerling was not allowed to contact the babys father when she went into labor, and her family was not allowed to be present during the birth, Mr. Grote said, adding that a sheriffs deputy stayed in the room the whole time. It is unclear at this time if those held in the jail received the required food and nutrition since the food service was not happening. Eric Phillip Casteel, 62, was arrested at his Plum home Thursday and charged with three misdemeanor counts each of endangering another person, terroristic threats and simple assault. <> Another caller complained about being unnecessarily quarantined after testing negative for Covid. Police File Complaint 5. The complaint . As of February 6th, 2022, the Allegheny County Jail is still keeping folks held in lockdown, supposedly due to Covid, despite people's referendum against solitary confinement. 1. A report commissioned by Allegheny County Jail found no significant trends or common factors that would show a particular weakness or gap in operations that led to 27 inmate deaths at the jail over five years. The jails energy plant is expected to be completed by the end of the year, Caponi wrote. The Jail Oversight Board meeting that same day showed that those being held in the jail were not receiving commisary stipends previously approved, those held in the mental health wing were not receiving recreation time, and that the jail was still holding people in solitary confinement for weeks despite a citizen referendum that made the practice basically illegal. The contractor hired to give this militarized training has, and other accusations, leading many to question the contract. On February 2, 2023, lawyers representing Denzelle Kendrick reported that. Paula Reed Ward is a Tribune-Review staff writer. They also allege that jail medical staff admitted not knowing how to provide care for LGBTQ+ folks. In March 2021, several allegations came out regarding lack of heat in jail cells, cold enough to see your breath and be a health hazard. We're looking for volunteers who interact with Allegheny County to test a new navigation structure for our website! R1k7_fozN ;ACPM07{S5A Nh? Allegheny County Jail Oversight Board talks solitary referendum, jail Inmate dies at Allegheny County Jail . Harper is not the man for the job. On November 2nd, 2022, the Abolitionist Law Center reported that a recent jail inspection on October 26th disclosed that rat droppings were still found in the jail kitchen and food storage area. The lawsuit said that the Allegheny County facility has one of the highest suicide rates for a jail in the country with nine suicides there since 2016. Thats not food, commented at least one person on Twitter. You can contact Paula by email at pward@triblive.com or via Twitter . This is clearly a failure of oversight and leadership by top jail staff, including Warden Orlando Harper. On July 28th, 2022, photos were shared of the food being served in the jail. Man dies after collapsing at Allegheny County Jail Carefully consider if Allegheny County is the appropriate place to file for custody. In late October 2021, reports show that the jail has been on a 231 (23 hours in cells with 1 hour of time outside for hygiene or recreation) has been the regular at the jail since roughly the start of the pandemic. Also in July 2021, questions arose about the. He has been placed in solitary confinement several dozen times, the complaint said, and consistently since 2018. describes the lack of transparency and oversight in the jail. Folks report suffering. Over 50% of the medical positions at ACJ are unfilled, showing the staffing crisis continues without any specific plan from Warden Harper on how to fix it. The Allegheny County Jail, too, the lawsuit continued, had the highest number of Taser and stun gun use nearly five times that of the second highest county. . In July, the Post-Gazette called for Mr. Harpers resignation, as have the employees union and many members of the public.. The complaint alleges that force is regularly used without pursuing any other alternative, even when the person presents no risk to self or others. The Allegheny County Jail operates as the dark vortex of racial oppression in this county, fueling the cycle of trauma and violence, Grote said. On March 14, 2022, the Pittsburgh Institute for Nonprofit Journalism released a three part series about the jail. 2 taken into custody after high-speed Pittsburgh police chase Her 2020 series on how court debt impacts low-income Allegheny County residents prompted the county to join It may continue to be edited to add any future complaints until Harper is removed and conditions in the jail change. Timothy OBrien, PACTs operations manager, said PACT is not experiencing any system issues and has not received any complaints from the county about steam services to the jail. . gives known details of the thirteen people that have died in the jail. The American Bar Association considers strip searching of minors to be state-imposed trauma and advises other less invasive methods. Also in March 2021, PublicSource requested documentation on the jails internal policies and received heavily redacted versions. Still, West said its hard to stay warm in the Allegheny County Jail. The federal Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 2018 ordered that no child is to be held in an adult jail unless in the interests of Justice. COMPLAINT against ALLEGHENY COUNTY JAIL (Filing fee, including Administrative fee, $400, receipt number 0315-4508752), filed by JAMIE POMAIBO. stream Warden Harper and Deputy Warden Williams appear to have known about this use of the chairs. Part Three describes how Allegheny County is one of only two counties in Pennsylvania in which autopsy reports are not made public automatically, and the jail fights Right to Know requests to open up that information. Deuerling was limited in the time she was allowed to hold her infant, he said, and she was not allowed to shower for two days., In May 2019, lawyer Bret Grote wrote about the travesty of the Allegheny County Jail, describing to the Trib: As a civil rights attorney, I have had, . Al Caponi, the countys director of facilities management, said each time the department has received a complaint about temperatures in the jail, it has taken readings on all levels. Harper also showed a complete lack of understanding of the difference between. On July 19th, 2022, County Councilmember and Jail Oversight Board member Bethany Hallam. Also during that time, correctional officers have used force on Byrd more than 20 times. Al Caponi, the countys director of facilities management, said each time the department has received a complaint about temperatures in the jail, it has taken readings on all levels. Allegheny County settles jail sex assault lawsuit with former inmate The lawsuit alleges that on Jan. 8 there was a fight on his pod which Castaphany was not involved in. In December 2020, more people that were held in the jail for mental health services spoke out about the inadequate mental health care and treatment received from police and the jail. On January 27, 2023, it was reported that Kendrick suffered a stroke in the jail from lack of care and that he was left laying unresponsive on the floor of his cell for more than an hour during a medical emergency late last year. In August 2021, it came to light that Warden Harper was negotiating contracts for military-style training for jail staff, as well as purchasing more less-lethal weapons such as so-called rubber bullets (which can actually cause serious injury and even death in many circumstances, such as direct fire and close quarters that would be the case inside the jail). He was being. In July 2020, it was made publicly known that the jail was profiting from a new phone contract that overcharges those in the jail and their families trying to reach their loved ones. However, follow-ups with the complainants showed that the jail had sent police to intimidate the complainers, and interviewed them under duress without the presence of lawyers or informing complainants of their rights. It further claims that the jail medical facilities have inadequate resources. A written statement from the Corrections Officer Union was read at a Jail Oversight Board meeting, in which the Warden was called out for not providing enough information to staff, and for making it more difficult to comply with the referendum during a pandemic by cramming people into just a few housing units while other units sit empty. I was in there freezing. The defendants include Allegheny County, as well as Warden Orlando Harper; Chief Deputy Warden Laura Williams, who is in charge of health care; and Mental Health Director Michael Barfield. There is an urgent need to reduce the population for safety during COVID-19, but even beyond the pandemic we must reduce the jail population. . On January 6th, 2022, the first Jail Oversight Board meeting of the new year saw Warden Harper admitting that nearly 300 people were still being kept in solitary confinement conditions, in direct violation of a referendum that passed in May 2021 with 70% of the countys voters in support. Apply today. , stating: Mr. An abuse of authority of such severity cannot be treated with impunity. The county is fighting a lawsuit and defending the officer. Jailbreak PGH, a grassroots group that advocates for people inside the jail, heard in early February from over 10 people at the facility that the vents inside the cells were blowing cold air, according to Nicole, a member who asked that her last name be withheld for privacy concerns. According to one person, , . Deputy Warden Williams was also alleged to refuse to wear protective equipment while meeting with those held in the jail, and refusing to take action on their COVID concerns. Its terrible, he said. Porter was approved for surgery to resolve his vision problems, the complaint said, but accuses Williams of cancelling the procedure and refusing to reschedule it. Officials especially on the Jail Oversight Board continue to express their frustration with, In late October 2021, reports show that the jail has been on a 231 (, ) has been the regular at the jail since roughly the start of the pandemic. When local newspapers call on the jail to follow the existing law, that is a huge red flag about the problems existing at the jail. The lawsuit, filed June 28, says Martin Bucek, 55, killed himself inside the jail on July 3, 2021, and that the jail failed to prevent his suicide. , the 6th in 2021. Oh, Christmas Tree. . You see your breath inside. The complaint alleges that corrections officers discouraged her from requesting mental health treatment, calling her crazy, and told her to suck it up.. Melissa Behanna, 35, of Washington County said jail officials knew Joshua Reber was sexually assaulting inmates when he worked as a corrections officer at the jail in 2015 . Criminal Procedure - Allegheny County District Attorney's Office Criminal Procedure The following process describes how a prosecution would proceed through the court system in Pennsylvania. At the same meeting, a motion to release details about the food service in the jail failed, leading to more questions about the jails food service contract. Byrd has been held at the jail since February 2015 and has anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and PTSD. Alexandra Morgan-Kurtz, the managing attorney at the Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project, said that it is appalling that the jails top health care and mental health facilities administrators have no health care experience at all. The report released Thursday said almost all of the recommendations in that report have been implemented. endobj What hes doing there is torture. Deputy Warden Williams was also alleged to refuse to wear protective equipment while meeting with those held in the jail, and refusing to take action on their COVID concerns. endobj 90.5 WESA. Folks being held are supposed to get nutritious meals, this is unacceptable. Even though Mr. Castaphany complied, he was tased before he could get on the ground, the complaint said. Please try to log in again or use the forgot your password link, Main Jail Phone: 412-350-2000 Other Phone Numbers, Allegheny County Jail The report also dealt with the relationship between the jail administration and jail staff and said the relationship between the administration and Jail Oversight Board is strained. This militarization seems to be a direct response to the citizen referendum banning solitary confinement. Harper claimed at the oversight board meeting that there was a plan, but not written down, leaving concern about if there really is a plan. Please note that if you submitted a compliant form electronically through the District Attorneys website, you will have to resubmit following these instructions. On Jan. 13, Richard Arrington, who was incarcerated at the jail, said he was wearing two T-shirts, a thermal shirt and his uniform. According to one person, The warden needs to be addressed. Its hard to view this as anything other than yet another superficial press stunt by the county administration to distract from the abysmal human rights record of the jail, Hallam said. While some complaints are from the current winter, others have said this has been a common issue for years. During a recent meeting, the Allegheny County Jail Oversight Board voted against a motion . Man who died at Allegheny County Jail identified. Allegheny County Jail staffing shortage could be hurting incarcerated You will be notified if there is insufficient evidence to proceed. These repeated allegations must be taken seriously to ensure international human rights are respected and real change actually takes place at the jail. People leave ACJ worse than they entered, at risk for debilitating flashbacks, anxiety, depression and suicidality, the lawsuit said, calling correctional officers hostile to inmates mental health needs and to psychiatrists efforts to meet and treat their patients. (see: https://www.publicsource.org/allegheny-county-jail-cold-temperature-complaints/) %PDF-1.5 On February 27, 2023, lawyers in a federal lawsuit against the jail stated that mental health treatment in the jail is shockingly substandard. Harper also showed a complete lack of understanding of the difference between allegations prior to a trial versus actual serving a sentence. , cold enough to see your breath and be a health hazard. In October 2021, it was reported that a fifth person, Paul Allen, had died at the Jail in the last year, making the death rate per population at ACJ higher than infamous brutal jails such as Rikers Island. . While the public press release is from February 2023, it refers to a memo with survey results that was. There were also concerns that the jail was violating a voter referendum that had banned solitary confinement by the repeated, On January 18, 2023, it was reported that Denzelle Kendrick was, by the jail and suddenly taken off several medications theyve been on since birth without explanation. Either way, its another example of his penchant for dismissing problems instead of fixing them., On July 21st, 2022, ACJ staff union president.

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