A proposed settlement filed in federal court outlines significant improvements to mental health support and a reduction in the use of force at the Allegheny County Jail in Pittsburgh.
The agreement, pending judicial approval, aims to resolve a class action lawsuit alleging inadequate treatment and medication for inmates with mental health disabilities. It also addresses concerns of extended solitary confinement and excessive force as punitive measures.
“This settlement marks a significant victory. Law enforcement cannot disregard the law in its enforcement,” remarked Jason Porter, one of the five inmates represented as plaintiffs.
Legal representatives from the Abolitionist Law Center, the Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project, and Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP, noted that mental health care, encompassing intake procedures, medication, counseling, and suicide prevention, was severely lacking or absent entirely when the lawsuit was initiated in 2020.
The Allegheny County Jail faced one of the highest suicide rates among large county correctional facilities in Pennsylvania, with seven out of 27 in-custody deaths identified as suicides between 2017 and 2022.
Shaquille Howard, a former inmate, expressed gratitude for the promised reforms, recounting his own experiences of prolonged solitary confinement and limited access to mental health counseling. “I’m relieved that others won’t have to endure what I went through,” he stated.
The proposed settlement outlines several key provisions aimed at improving mental health care within the jail. It mandates an increase in mental health staffing to approximately 47 positions, with around 30 requiring independent licensure, to serve the jail’s population of roughly 1,700 inmates. The majority of these positions must be filled within six months of a court order.
Additionally, correctional staff would undergo training on identifying signs of mental illness, appropriate use of force, and de-escalation techniques. The effectiveness of this training would be audited post-implementation.
Notable reforms include requiring mental health staff to intervene during potential use-of-force incidents and documenting their involvement, regardless of whether force is employed. Counseling would be offered to inmates flagged with serious mental health conditions, recent diagnoses, or a history of self-harm.
To address concerns about solitary confinement, the settlement proposes a minimum of four hours of out-of-cell time for inmates in segregated housing, along with a behavior management program aimed at reducing time spent in solitary.
The settlement also emphasizes the importance of timely mental health screenings and clinical decisions made by healthcare professionals regarding treatment, medication, and access to essential items.
Attorney Keith E. Whitson hailed the proposed changes as a “fundamental shift” in addressing mental health within the jail, emphasizing their meaningful impact on incarcerated individuals and their families.
Pending approval, the settlement would require the jail to maintain compliance for at least two years before court supervision concludes.
