County Jail Exceeds Overtime Budget

Allegheny County Controller Mark Patrick Flaherty says the County Jail spent $2.1 million more than it should have on overtime pay in 2008 and 2009.

Flaherty says the problem stems from an insufficient amount of officers, suggesting that the jail could actually save money by hiring new full-time and part-time employees.

Officers who abuse the Family Medical Leave Act also force their coworkers into overtime hours, says Flaherty. He says jail management should amend its FMLA policies to be stricter.

The Controller says cutting down on the number of inmates could also reduce the number of shifts and posts needed. He says to reduce the jail population, eligible inmates should be sent to alternate housing as soon as possible. Flaherty notes that individuals living in alternate housing cost the county less than those in the jail itself.

Rustin Leaving for New Mexico

Allegheny County Jail Warden Ramon Rustin has resigned effective January 14. Rustin came to Pittsburgh in October 2004 after serving as deputy warden at the Chester County Prison. Rustin has accepted a position as Chief of Correction in Bernalillo County in New Mexico. Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato announced the resignation in a statement....
"Warden Rustin has been a valuable asset to Allegheny County. In addition to his day to day responsibilities, he played a key role in the Jail Collaborative which supports former inmates and their reintegration back into their community. I wish him continued success in his new position."

Onorato said he would appoint an interim warden while a search is conducted for a permanent replacement.

Study: Cities Trying to Trim Jail Spending

Policy decisions regarding local jails can drastically affect how much municipalities spend on incarceration, according to a new study from the Pew Charitable Trusts.

For the first time in three decades, the average jail population of large cities dropped by about 2.3%. Study author Claire Shubik-Richards from Pew’s Philadelphia Research Initiative says that decline in population usually brings with it a decrease in jail spending.

Shubik-Richards says both of those statistics can be at least partially attributed to cost-cutting maneuvers by local governments. She says a city’s jail policies are often more influential to the jail population than the area’s crime rate. Those policies can range from consolidating multiple hearings to speeding up the trial process.

Shubik-Richards says the policy changes are probably a reaction to the tough economic times, where cities that spend a significant portion of their budgets on jails must find ways to save money while maintaining public safety.

Allegheny County's jail population increased 49% from 1999 to 2009. During that same time period, jail spending shot up 19%.

Jail Guards Charged in Beating of Inmate

Two Allegheny County jail guards have been charged in the beating of inmate David Kipp. Arii Metz and Marcia Williams, both with ten years on the job were charged with several counts. Metz was charged with aggravated assault and criminal conspiracy, among other counts. Williams was with criminal conspiracy, un-sworn falsification to authorities, obstruction of the administration of law and official oppression. Allegheny County Police Superintendent Charles Moffatt said both Williams and Metz and a third guard, Timothy Miller, are suspended without pay and a preliminary hearing will be held next week. The alleged beating took place in the intake/processing department and Allegheny County Jail Warden Ramon Rustin says that while there are cameras throughout the facility, they don't capture everything, "This area in our processing, I don't consider it a blind spot, but it doesn't capture every single area." Kipp was taken to the county jail on October 13 on drug and assault charges with no visible facial wounds. But when he showed up for a hearing he had visible bruising and bandages on his face and his defense attorney Kevin Abromovitz told he judge his client suffered a broken nose and perforated eardrum and he didn't believe the injuries were caused by another inmate. FBI Special Agent in Charge Mike Rodriguez says civil rights charges under the color of law code are pending against one or more of the corrections officers.

Should County Prisoners Go to Work?

Allegheny County Council is considering a bill that would put non-violent prisoners to work outside the County Jail. Council Vice President Charles Martoni from District 8, a co-sponsor, says it’s a complex issue that could be constructive and positive both for the county and for the prisoners eligible to work, but care must be taken not to encroach on jobs that county employees should be doing and to use only those prisoners who would not be dangerous—people who are in jail for DUI offenses, for example.

He says Council should proceed slowly before voting on the measure. He would like to study other such programs around the country to see how they've been implemented and whether they've been successful.

Martoni says the community and the country need all citizens to be productive, and he believes there are some prisoners who could be.

Jails at Lowest Population Since 2001

The nation’s jail population is on the decline.

That’s according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, which announced yesterday the country’s jails shed 2.3% of their population from 2008 to 2009. That’s 17,936 inmates.

Unlike prisons, jails are operated by local law enforcement. More than half of jail inmates are unconvicted and await arraignment, trial, or conviction.

Allegheny County Jail Warden Ramon Rustin says he doesn’t know if that’s related to crime rates – but he says policies like probation sentences and cheaper bails are to thank.

Rustin says jail was originally used to house the offenders that society is afraid of.

“We kind of went to jailing people that we’re simply mad at for a variety of things,” says Rustin. “So we take a look at that, and large-scale administrators actually try to manage the population [to] where it doesn’t cost the taxpayer a massive amount of money.”

The Bureau of Justice Statistics found that the largest jails had the highest drops in population. Almost 30% of the nationwide decline happened in just seven jails.

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.

Commemoration of Jail Activity Center Celebrates Its Success

Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato and Allegheny County Jail Warden Ramon Rustin today celebrated the anniversary of the opening of the Gwen Elliot Child Activity Center within the prison. The warden thanked the 40 volunteers at the center for their donation of over 2,000 hours of work. Onorato says the success of the activity will allow it to be run through the operations of the jail at no cost to the Allegheny County taxpayer. Members of Gwen Elliot's family were in attendance and unveiled a portrait of the late commander to be hung in the center.

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.