On today’s episode of The Confluence: WESA reporter Kiley Koscinski explains how the Allegheny County Jail lockdown, due to a spike in COVID-19 cases, may be violating the voter referendum to end the practice of solitary confinement; amid freezing temperatures, Pittsburgh Mercy’s winter shelter saw full capacity to keep unhoused individuals safe from the weather; and a look at the struggle local manufacturers are facing to maintain a full staff.
Allegheny County Jail may be violating voter referendum on solitary confinement
(0:00 - 8:03)
The Allegheny County Jail has been on modified lockdown after a spike in COVID-19 cases during January, which means inmates have received little, if any, recreation time.
The jail reported, at its highest, 256 cases of COVID-19 in January, though officials didn’t specify exactly when this high was logged. By the end of the month, cases had dropped to 82, meaning about 5% of the jail population had COVID-19.
“During the lockdown, out of cell time was really limited,” explains WESA reporter Kiley Koscinski. “Fifteen people and two workers were allowed to be out at a time on pods where no one was positive for COVID. On pods with COVID cases, only eight people and two workers were allowed out at a time.”
However, the lockdown means the jail may be in violation of a referendum limiting the use of solitary confinement.
“[The referendum] doesn't specifically state the inmate has to be by themselves to be considered in solitary, as you or I would interpret what ‘solitary confinement’ means,” says Koscinski.
The referendum defines solitary confinement as, “the confinement of a detainee or inmate in a cell or other living space for more than 20 hours a day.”
Members of the Jail Oversight Board have taken issue with how solitary confinement is being reported, and board members Bethany Hallam and Tracey Rosen have asked the jail for more transparency.
The board is also taking issue with how the jail is complying with a ban on collaborating with a controversial trainer and using certain weapons, further highlighting the board’s struggle to enforce their orders at the jail.
Officials have said the lockdown was necessary to manage the spread of COVID-19, and have not yet said at what threshold of cases they will lift the lockdown.
“The president of the union that represents the jail's guards, Brian Englert, tells me that without the lockdown, it's much harder at any time to manage the four hours of recreation time that's required,” says Koscinski. “There is a severe staffing shortage at the Allegheny County Jail.”
Pittsburgh Mercy winter shelters are reaching full capacity
(8:07 - 17:37)
Over the last few weeks, temperatures in Pittsburgh dipped into the single digits several times and below freezing temperatures. Those who are experiencing homelessness seek out emergency winter shelters when the weather turns dangerous due to the cold and snow and ice.
Pittsburgh Mercy’s low-barrier, winter shelter can house up to 68 people, when complying with COVID-19 protocols.
“We have reached capacity almost every night for the past two months,” says Jacque Hunter, senior manager of homeless services for Pittsburgh Mercy. “At one point, we reached fifty-five individuals over our capacity, which we then fielded out to other emergency shelters that also have housing for folks and shelter individuals.”
Hunter says the shelter has extended its hours to operate an extra hour every day, and has established hours that overlap with warming centers on the weekends.
The shelter has had to comply with COVID-19 mitigation measures, which has meant reduced capacity for the past two years.
“We do provide vaccinations and testing every week for individuals,” says Hunter. “All of our staff certainly are vaccinated at this point. You know, everybody’s wearing masks, and depending on if Allegheny County’s positivity rate is over 10% or not, we also have to accommodate with different PPE [personal protective equipment].”
Hunter says the shelter is also accepting donations on its website to help give out warm-weather clothing, like gloves and boots.
Local manufacturers are putting more effort into maintaining a full staff
(17:38 - 22:30)
The manufacturing sector was struggling long before the pandemic with how to find future workers, but with the rise of remote work and the tightening of the labor market, hiring has become a major challenge at the nation’s factories.
90.5 WESA’s An-Li Herring has this report on how Pittsburgh-area companies are coping.
The Confluence, where the news comes together, is 90.5 WESA’s daily news program. Tune in Monday to Thursday at 9 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. to hear newsmakers and innovators take an in-depth look at stories important to the Pittsburgh region. Find more episodes of The Confluence here or wherever you get your podcasts.
