The Allegheny Jail Oversight Board last week rejected a motion to pay incarcerated workers at the facility, sparking discussion about the extent of the board’s authority.
Board members disagreed over whether the county would be obligated to fund the motion if the board were to pass it at a later date without prior allocation.
Incarcerated workers at the county jail don’t currently receive payment for their work doing kitchen, laundry, and general maintenance jobs around the facility. Workers may get extra time out of their cells or a second tray at mealtime as compensation.
The proposal would have compensated them $10 per day of work, to be paid out to their dependents or to be given to them in three chunks after release.
A county spokesperson declined to comment on how many incarcerated people currently work at Allegheny County Jail and why the county favors non-monetary compensation for incarcerated workers.
Allegheny County Councilor Bethany Hallam, who introduced the motion, was the sole vote in its favor. Judge Elliot Howsie voted against the motion.
Most board members, however, said that — while they would support paying incarcerated workers at the jail — they wanted more information about where the funds would come from, among other issues. Abass Kamara, Gayle Moss, Terri Klein, County Controller Corey O’Connor, and senior deputy county manager Stephen Pilarski (who serves as a surrogate for County Executive Rich Fitzgerald) abstained from voting. Judge Beth...
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