Jail TAILS Program Receives Kennel License Published on March 10, 2026 To ensure the TAILS program will continue to thrive, and possibly have room to grow, the ACJ applied for a kennel license. On Feb. 25, the state approved the license that allows the jail to house up to 50 dogs annually.
The ACJ Welcomes 13 New Cadets at Graduation Published on February 24, 2026 Throughout the events those in attendance heard words of encouragement from HOPE staff, guest speakers and other ACJ residents.
Foundation of HOPE Celebrates Male and Female Graduations Published on February 20, 2026 Throughout the events those in attendance heard words of encouragement from HOPE staff, guest speakers and other ACJ residents.
Two More Adoptions, and Two More Dogs Arrive at the ACJ Published on February 12, 2026 Princess Leia and Toby were each adopted in January. The jail quickly received Frank and Xavier, a bonded pair, who joined the TAILS program on Jan. 28.
Programming with a Purpose: HOPE Activities A Hit at ACJ Published on February 02, 2026 Organized group activities like Bingo, Monopoly, yoga or art appreciation are newer additions to programming at the ACJ. Led by facilitators from HOPE, these activities not only give the incarcerated residents a daily break from jail monotony but also foster a sense of community while focusing on re-entry and what lies ahead, rather than ruminating on what brought them to this space.
He Ain't Nothin' But a Hound Dog Published on January 12, 2026 Meet Toby, a hound mix who became the first 2026 canine participant in the TAILS program after arriving at the Allegheny County Jail on Friday, Jan. 9.
10 Residents Earn High School Diplomas at Mid-Year Graduation Published on December 23, 2025 Pittsburgh-Mt. Oliver IU Principal Tony Esoldo called it a “joyous day,” while thanking jail administration and the correctional officers who work with the educational department, and “are always supportive and eager to help however they can,” he said.
Foundation of HOPE Distributes Annual Holiday Gifts Published on December 19, 2025 HOPE staff members and volunteers joined jail staff personnel to distribute more than 1,700 care packages to the entire incarcerated population on December 10. The distribution process itself is the culmination of months of planning and donation collecting, and follows the packing process, which occurs the week before.
Another Happy Adoption: Zeus Finds His Forever Home Published on December 15, 2025 Zeus, a mixed-breed male, recently was adopted from the Allegheny County Jail's TAILS program.
Re-Entry Class Aims to Reduce Harm for the Incarcerated Published on December 09, 2025 Per the Centers for Disease Control, overdoses are the leading injury-related cause of death in the United States, with nearly 108,000 overdose deaths in 2022. That same year, just 13.1 million of the 54.6 million Americans who need substance use treatment had obtained help within the past year. Harm reduction represents a different approach to substance use – one that aims to avoid stigma, while