Advocates and community members are keeping pressure on officials in charge of the Allegheny County Jail, packing Thursday’s Jail Oversight Board meeting.
Jail officials spent meeting time addressing the recent suspension of ACJ doctor Wilson Bernales following a published report outlining his license suspensions, as well as some of the results of an inmate survey that claimed harrowing jail conditions during the height of the pandemic.
“Dr. [Wilson] Bernales is not the jail's employee. He's an employee of AHN,” said Ashley Brinkman, health services administrator at the jail, referring to Allegheny Health Network. “AHN is responsible for verifying credentials and licensures.” She said the jail, however, also conducts background checks on employees.
Ms. Brinkman also said that medical wait times for inmates requesting physical and psychiatric care have gone back to pre-pandemic levels.
The inmate survey, conducted by the Pitt school of social work, had nearly a 90% response rate and documented inmate concerns regarding inadequate food, lacking hygiene products, missing medical care and cold temperatures.
“Perceptions about the temperature of a room or facility are variable across populations. It’s typical for some people be cold while other people are too warm,” Chief Deputy Warden Jason Beasom said during the meeting. “Whatever concerns are raised, the jail does take temperature readings, and while some residents of the jail report being too cold to sleep, the jail provides T-shirts, socks, jail uniforms and two blankets.”
The Alliance for Police Accountability coalition held a news conference at the City-County Building just before the meeting, gathering blankets and soap to represent the issues inmates face. Black Political Empowerment Project Chairman Tim Stevens, along with other advocates, presented pads, tampons, blankets and soap to the board, piling the items at Warden Orlando Harper’s feet toward the end of the meeting. The items were collected by advocates after the meeting.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, 17 people have died following incarceration at Allegheny County Jail. Anthony Talotta, 57, was found unresponsive in the jail after another physician declared him clear to stay in his unit following a medical emergency. He died in the hospital on Sept. 21.
Kimberly Andrews, 23, was at the meeting Thursday with her 1-year-old son. Her fiancé, Michael Duku, 28, is incarcerated at Allegheny County Jail on detainer. Duku called every half hour to check whether public comment had opened, paying $3.25 per 15 minutes in order to make public comment.
He was unable to speak to board members because his time ran out before Ms. Andrews’ name was called. A lawsuit alleging the jail overuses detainers was filed this Tuesday.
Barbara Finch was a nurse at Allegheny County Jail for 10 years and under five different wardens.
“My boss was you, Warden Harper,” she said during public comment. “With all due respect, Warden Harper, you ordered me how to deliver my nursing care. … You do not have medical knowledge.”
Janelle Tipton said her son Aaron suffered a broken femur on Sept. 16 while incarcerated at Allegheny County Jail. She said he had been beaten by corrections officers.
“I was not even notified that my son was in the hospital until three days later,” she said during her testimony; another inmate eventually told Ms. Tipton where her son was. “Now, you tell me: These [correction officers], are they respectful? Warden Harper, you need to be fired.”
First Published: October 7, 2022, 12:39 a.m.
