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.
|
COVID-19 Testing at ACJ (As of 12/24/2020) Totals are Cumulative
|
| |
Tested* |
Positive |
Negative |
Pending |
Number of COVID-19 Positive Inmates in Facility |
Released/ Recovered
|
Number of COVID-19 Related Hospitalizations |
| Inmates |
1121 |
114 |
998 |
3 |
38 |
72 |
0 |
| ** |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
COVID-19 Staff Testing at ACJ (As of 12/24/2020)
Totals are Cumulative
|
| |
Tested |
Positive |
Negative |
Pending |
Recovered |
| Staff |
258 |
82 |
171 |
5 |
58 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Alternative Housing COVID Testing (Numbers as of 12/25/2020)
Totals are Cumulative
Alternative Housing is Currently Receiving New Residents |
| |
Tested |
Positive |
Negative |
Pending |
Released/ Recovered |
| ACTA Employees |
87 |
7 |
80 |
0 |
7 |
| ACTA Residents |
59 |
11 |
48 |
0 |
11 |
| Renewal Employees |
74 |
22 |
52 |
0 |
19 |
| Renewal Residents |
22 |
13 |
9 |
0 |
7 |
| Female Offenders Employees |
36 |
1 |
35 |
0 |
1 |
| Female Offenders Residents |
35 |
0 |
35 |
0 |
0 |
*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.
|
Daily Population Report (12/25/2020)
|
| Today’s Population |
Yesterday’s Population (+/- change) |
Last Week's Population (+/- change) |
Last Month’s Population (+/- change) |
| 1,586 |
1,566 (-20) |
1,673 (-87) |
1,677 (-91) |
