Jail

Allegheny County Jail

COVID-19 INFORMATION

Our Response

The Bureau of Corrections is charged with providing for the care, custody and control of persons committed to the Allegheny County Jail. Confined areas present challenges when it comes to mitigation and elimination of the spread of illness or disease, and COVID-19 is no exception.

At the jail, we continue to follow the guidance of our health officials. People are wearing masks, washing their hands and remaining physically distanced. We’re testing when appropriate. Positive cases are isolated. We perform contact tracing and quarantine those individuals. We have consistent cleaning of the environment. Ongoing screenings include temperature checks and queries about symptoms of all employees and contractors. Visitation restrictions, while difficult for everyone, are limiting the number of people who interaction with the inmates and reducing the chance of spread. We continue to enforce and reinforce all recommendations and these measures have been upheld by our hardworking, essential employees and dedicated staff. They work continuously to ensure the safe management of this facility and all those who are in it.

Through December 14, 2020, a total of 72 inmates test positive for COVID-19 and 44 of those inmates have since recovered or been released. There are currently 28 positive inmates in the facility who are in isolation and being monitored by medical. Today’s population is 1,706 meaning that 1% of inmates are positive in the facility. Additional information regarding COVID-19 at the jail can be found on our Web site, https://www.alleghenycounty.us/jail/index.aspx.

The Allegheny County Jail is not alone in seeing an increase in cases. Across Pennsylvania, correctional institutions have been hit particularly hard by COVID-19, with the number of positives inmates jumping since Thanksgiving. From November 26 to December 15, inmate positives have gone from 2,115 to 4,503, an increase of 2,388 across state prisons. Likewise, this region has seen increased cases during the month of November. 

The health, safety and welfare of the inmates and our staff remains our biggest priority. We are deeply indebted to, and salute, our healthcare and corrections staff who are working tirelessly to care for those in our custody. We recognize the commitment, dedication and sacrifices that represents, and remain grateful for everything that they do.

*Pursuant to a policy of the PA Department of Corrections, any inmate being transferred to state facilities must have a negative test for COVID-19 before transfer can be made. As a result, those inmates awaiting transfer are being tested on an ongoing basis. Additional testing of inmates is done in consultation with the Allegheny County Health Department.

** Specimens submitted for analysis have been indeterminate during the first run, resulting in retests. While most retests result in either a positive or negative case, five inmate's results came back as indeterminate. The numbers are off by five due to these cases.

Attorney Visits

Effective Wednesday, July 8, 2020, the Allegheny County Jail will allow attorney visits to the facility.   More information

Inmate Release

Since March 16, 2020, a collaboration of officials in the Criminal Court, including Judges, Court Administration, Adult Probation, Pretrial Services, the Public Defender’s Office and the District Attorney’s Office, have been continually reviewing cases to determine which inmates are appropriate for release. Those cases are then addressed in Motions Court or reviewed with the assigned Judge depending on the circumstances. Inmate releases are being processed as they are received, following the same process related to discharge and release as is done traditionally. From March 17 through noon on December 25, a total of 5,641 inmates have been released from the facility.