Visitation has reopened at the Allegheny County Jail regardless of the visitor’s or incarcerated person’s covid-19 vaccination status.
Allegheny County Jail Warden Orlando Harper announced Monday the jail would be fully reopened for visitations. In a release, he said the decision was made after consulting with the county health department and officials at Allegheny Health Network.
“The covid-19 pandemic has been difficult for all of us, including our incarcerated population and their loved ones,” Harper said. “We look forward to returning to a sense of normalcy at the facility.”
Employees at the Allegheny County Jail have been under the county’s vaccine mandate since December 2021. Incarcerated individuals within the jail are encouraged to get vaccinated. The jail offers covid-19 vaccinations, but there is no mandate, according to the county’s website.
It’s unclear how many incarcerated individuals were vaccinated at the jail, according to the jail’s January report, the most recent report available. The January report said 31 incarcerated people tested positive for covid-19, out of more than 1,400 currently housed in the jail.
Contactless in-person visitation is available at the jail Mondays through Saturdays, and sessions are scheduled in one-hour increments. They must be scheduled a minimum of two days in advance, and those visiting must first register with the jail.
Virtual visit services through tablets remain an option for incarcerated persons.
