By Steve Bohnel
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
ALLEGHENY COUNTY, Pa. — The county’s jail oversight board approved monthly $125 payments through August from a fund used by inmates to purchase hygiene products, clothing and other needs.
Members voted 5-2 to distribute the payments from the Incarcerated Individuals Welfare Fund, which draws its money from profits from inmates’ phone and tablet usage, as well as purchases of commissary items. A study from the county’s Department of Human Services to review its impact on those incarcerated also will be completed.
Judge Susan Evashavik DiLucente, chair of the board, and Judge Kelly E. Bigley were the two members opposed. County Controller Corey O’Connor and Sheriff Kevin Kraus were both absent.
County Councilwoman and jail oversight board member Bethany Hallam had initially proposed disbursing the payments from the fund through June, but Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato, another member of the board, added an amendment that extends those through August alongside a study of the fund. DHS researchers will evaluate the fund’s impact on the jail, whether it helps reduce recidivism, the overall effect on community safety and other issues.
Supporters of the fund, including Ms. Hallam and several who attended Thursday’s meeting, said disbursing money to inmates — especially because it is based off the profits off of what many of them spend at the jail — was the humane thing to do.
Some, however, are worried about the long-term health of the fund. Ms. Innamorato said it is solvent through June 2026. But Judge DiLucente said Thursday that there should have been greater discussions about decreasing the monthly payments to extend that time frame, or creating more of a scale to direct money to those who need it most in the jail.
She and Judge Bigley acknowledged the money should remain with jail inmates but that there were perhaps fairer ways to distribute the funds.
But a majority of board members, and those in the audience Thursday, said that disbursing the money was more important. Tanisha Long, a frequent attendee of jail board meetings and Allegheny County community organizer for the Abolitionist Law Center, said the $125 payments are a vital lifeline for those incarcerated and their families.
“I’m glad this board is taking it seriously and doing the financial work to see how we can sustain this fund, and make sure we have this available for the people who need it most,” Ms. Long said.
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