Jail Suicide Review

After an apparent suicide on Saturday, the warden of the Allegheny County Jail said he did not expect changes in policy or implement disciplinary measures against employees because of the death. Warden Ramon Rustin said everyone did what they were supposed to do. Dr. Shiva Lal Acharya, who was found hanged in his cell, was not on suicide watch because he did not have any suicidal symptoms, Rustin said. However, he was in a special needs cell, where he was still closely watched. Rustin said there is a difference between sectioned in a special needs cell and being suicidal. Suicidal inmates are more closely watched than those with special needs.

Rustin said he expects to see reports by the medical examiner's office and the county police shortly. He said if problems are shown in either report, they will further evaluate current policies and employee behavior.

Jail Employees Get New Exercise Equipment

State Senator Jay Costa and County Executive Dan Onorato toured the Allegheny County Jail's new workout facility today. The facility is for staff only; no prisoners will be allowed to use them. The exercise equipment is a part of the county's wellness program. Jail employees are not allowed to leave the premises when on duty, so they are unable to participate in the county's 10,000 steps program. Onorato says he expects the wellness program will help reduce the county's health insurance premiums. The county received $10,000 in grants to buy the equipment, which is already in use.

Illegal Aliens in Jail

U.S. Senator Arlen Specter was in town to tour the Allegheny County Jail Sentenced Housing Unit. After the tour he held a discussion regarding identifying criminal undocumented immigrants. He said the system is broken because of how hard it is to deport the illegal alien. Specter said part of the problem in deporting the illegal immigrants is their home country does not want to take them back. As a proposed solution to that problem Specter referenced a bill that he supports that would halt visas or government aid to countries that refuse to take their citizens back. He spoke today with some illegal immigrants who are currently held in the Allegheny County Jail. Specter said one of the inmates, an illegal mexican who was there because of a DUI charge, would gladly accept deportation over his sentence. While another inmate who is Syrian in jail on a burgalry charge would rather stay in the country. Specter said the problems encountered in identifying illegal immigrants in jail and having them deported is a part of the larger issue of immigration and hasn't been addressed because there has not been a comprehensive immigration bill.

Recidivism Drops at Allegheny County Jail

The University of Pittsburgh has released a study regarding recidivism in the Allegheny County Jail. The study found that the Allegheny County Jail Collaborative has reduced the amount of inmates who find their way back to jail after release. The study found the county saved $5.3 million a year. Allegheny County's rate of recidivism is now 16.5%, compared to the national average of 33.1%. The Jail Collaborative includes social services that, among other things, provide inmates with access to drug and alcohol counseling, job placement, and GED preparation.