A local mother has filed a lawsuit against the Jail Oversight Board for allegedly violating the state's open meetings laws. This month also brought two new deaths to the jail and complaints from public defenders about reduced access to their clients.
The county's jail oversight board approved a new hire Thursday without providing public notice or allowing for public comment in a move some critics say violated the state's Sunshine Act.
Some members of the jail oversight board are still concerned that some incarcerated people’s constitutional rights are being violated at the Allegheny County Jail.
At a meeting on Thursday, Warden Orlando Harper said due to COVID-19 mitigation efforts, a “majority” of people were not receiving the four hours of recreation time required by law.
The jail oversight board voted Wednesday to post a job listing and start the hiring process for a jail liaison, who will share reports about the daily ongoings at the jail with the board.