IT’S ABOUT THE ILLEGAL DETENTION OF HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE AT THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY JAIL ON ANY GIVEN DAY CIVIL RIGHTS CORPS AND THE ABOLITIONIST LAW CENTER FILED THE FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS SUIT FOR SIX SPECIFIC INMATES, BUT THEY SEEK CLASS ACTION STATUS TO REPRESENT THEM MORE THAN 600 ALLEGHENY COUNTY JAIL INMATES, THEY CLAIM OUR EFFECTIVE ONCE THERE’S A PROBATION DETAINER THIS ORDER THAT’S ISSUED AGAINST THEM. THEY HAVE VIRTUALLY NO WAY TO GET OUT OF JAIL DESPITE THE FACT THAT OUR JUDICIAL OFFICER IN A SEPARATE PROCEEDING HAS DETERMINED THAT THEY CAN BE RELEASED. SO MAYA SALAH IS SENIOR ATTORNEY WITH THE CIVIL RIGHTS SCORE. THE SUIT SAYS THAT WHEN SOMEONE IS CHARGED WITH VIOLATING PROBATION IN A PREVIOUS CASE ALLEGHENY COUNTY COURT AND PROBATION OFFICE POLICY IS TO AUTOMATICALLY FORCE THEM TO STAY IN JAIL. IT SAYS PROBATION OFFICE HEARING OFFICERS CARRYING OUT THAT POLICY ARE BUREAUCRATS NOT JUDGES THE DEFENDANTS. DON’T GET A CHANCE TO TALK TO THEIR PUBLIC DEFENDERS BEFORE IT HAPPENS. WHAT WE’RE ASKING FOR IS ACTUAL HEARING WHERE A JUDICIAL OFFICER DETERMINES IF THERE’S AN ACTUAL NEED FOR THEM TO BE IN JAIL, WHETHER THERE’S A PUBLIC SAFETY RISK OR WHETHER THEY’RE A FLIGHT RISK THE LAWSUIT ESTIMATES ON ANY GIVEN DAY ABOUT A THIRD OF THE JAIL POPULATION IS AFFECTED BY WHAT IT SAYS IS UNLAWFUL PROBATION VIOLATION DETENTION FOR PEOPLE WHO’VE BEEN STUCK IN THE JAIL FOR A MONTH AND MONTHS WHAT WE’RE ASKING FOR IS MONETARY COMPENSATION FOR EVERYDAY OF ILLEGAL DETENTION THAT THEY HAVE TO ENDURE. ELEGANTY COUNTY COURT ADMINISTRATION IS DECLINING COMMENT ON THI
Class-action lawsuit filed over ‘probation detainers’ at Allegheny County Jail
Updated: 5:55 PM EDT Oct 3, 2022
A new class-action lawsuit alleges hundreds of people are illegally held at Allegheny County Jail every day. The orders stop the person’s release from jail if they allegedly violated their probation.The plaintiffs in the case claim those orders come without fair hearings to determine if they should be held in jail at all.The lawsuit says at any given time, about a third of those housed at the county jail have these “probation detainers” lodged against them.Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 spoke with the lead attorney on the case. She says it’s nearly impossible for people to get out of jail after these orders come down.”The result of these policies is really catastrophic,” Sumayya Saleh said. “They’re separating families, they’re ruining lives and it’s done with such disregard for the human toll that this is taking on people’s lives.”The suit demands that these practices be changed and monetary damages for every day the plaintiffs are in jail .
PITTSBURGH —
A new class-action lawsuit alleges hundreds of people are illegally held at Allegheny County Jail every day.
The lawsuit claims judges and other court officials have used “probation detainers” to keep people in jail for prolonged periods of time. The orders stop the person’s release from jail if they allegedly violated their probation.
The plaintiffs in the case claim those orders come without fair hearings to determine if they should be held in jail at all.
The lawsuit says at any given time, about a third of those housed at the county jail have these “probation detainers” lodged against them.
Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 spoke with the lead attorney on the case. She says it’s nearly impossible for people to get out of jail after these orders come down.
“The result of these policies is really catastrophic,” Sumayya Saleh said. “They’re separating families, they’re ruining lives and it’s done with such disregard for the human toll that this is taking on people’s lives.”
The suit demands that these practices be changed and monetary damages for every day the plaintiffs are in jail.
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