Fatal Incident at Allegheny County Jail Claims Inmate's Life

A 59-year-old inmate at Allegheny County Jail, who had been housed in the jail's mental health unit, died after being found unresponsive by jail staff. The inmate had been awaiting transfer to a treatment facility since January and did not have any emergency contact information on file. County officials stated that there is a large waiting list for admittance to treatment facilities, and the jail has been working to address preventable deaths. This is the 20th death at the jail since April 2020, sparking criticism from County Councilmember Bethany Hallam regarding the jail's understaffing and lack of transparency. The cause and manner of death are currently under investigation by county police.