Allegheny County taxpayers are footing the bill for a jail system that’s growing faster than ever—even as crime rates drop.

Despite violent and property crime going down across Pittsburgh and the rest of the county, the population at Allegheny County Jail has surged nearly 10% in just six months.

This is not only a moral crisis but a financial one: the jail is projected to cost taxpayers over $122 million in 2026 alone, up nearly $20 million in just two years. It’s the single most expensive part of our public safety budget, and it’s crowding out funding that could go toward services that actually reduce incarceration in the first place—like mental health care, housing support, and community-based treatment.

The majority of people inside Allegheny County Jail aren’t serving long sentences—they’re either awaiting trial or held on probation violations. Many haven’t been convicted of a crime. Some are stuck there simply because a judge didn’t grant bond—or because they couldn’t afford to pay it. Others are waiting weeks or even months for court hearings or transfers. These delays are punishing people who haven’t been found guilty and straining an already overwhelmed system.

Meanwhile, alternative housing programs that provide treatment, support, and a second chance—like Passages to Recovery and Renewal, Inc.—have empty beds. Why? Because judges are refusing to place people there, even when those programs are designed to help ease overcrowding and give people a path forward.

Enough is enough. We, the undersigned, call on Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato, the Jail Oversight Board, and the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas to stop pouring taxpayer dollars into a failing model of mass incarceration. It’s time to:

Mandate expanded use of alternative housing and diversion programs
Require transparency from judges about detention decisions
Fully fund rehabilitation, reentry, and behavioral health supports

We can’t jail our way out of poverty, mental illness, or substance use. Let’s invest in solutions that build safety and dignity—for everyone.

Kelly Bigley

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