7 day forecast
Jail improvement
Share with others:
It was pleasant to see the Feb. 4 article "County Jail, Prisoners Parting on Better Terms" relating something good happening at the Allegheny County Jail, as opposed to the "terroristic" headlined article "Jail Sent Violent Inmates to Outside Facilities" Feb. 3 on what type of inmates are presumably sent to community facilities. I won't comment on the Sunday article (although I could) but on what I know about the "leave policy" at jail.
As a Pennsylvania Prison Society member considered an official visitor, I had frequently and for many years brought to the attention of the jail administration and the Jail Oversight Board the manner in which inmates were being released without assistance or notice to family. In addition, the society frequently raised the issue of release without proper clothing for the season.
Frankly, I was under the impression this problem had been solved years ago, due to the prison society's insistence. I am glad to hear it is finally official with processing through staff in the Discharge and Release Center. In addition, it is gratifying that this improvement has been brought to the public's attention.
MARION DAMICK
Squirrel Hill
First Published February 12, 2013 12:00 am
