Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Allegheny County Legal Representation for Jail Oversight Board Meetings
Final supporters
Dear Allegheny County Chief Legal Officer George Janockso:
The Pennsylvania Interfaith Impact Network (PIIN), coalition partners, and concerned county residents ask that you appoint a county legal representative to attend the monthly Allegheny County Jail Oversight Board meetings to:
- To provide necessary legal counsel in all matters relating to the Board's oversight of the Allegheny County Jail and other agencies that house the incarcerated, formerly incarcerated, and returning citizens.
- To assist in enforcing Roberts Rules of Order.
- To ensure the Board is operating in compliance with the PA state statute Title 61 in how it governs, votes, and functions. https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/LI/cons... placing special emphasis on the powers and duties of the Board in section 1724 and the law that states "the board shall investigate allegations of inadequate prison conditions and improper practices occurring within the prison and may make such other investigations or reviews of prison operation and maintenance. The books, papers and records of the prison, including, but not limited to, the papers and records of the warden and those relating to individual inmates, shall at all times be available for inspection by the board."
We are tax paying citizens and are appalled at the dysfunction, disorganization, and lack of adherence to the state statutes in how the JOB currently operates. The June 2023 Jail Oversight Board meeting was one of many examples that clearly show the lack of leadership on the Board, and the ineffectiveness of it to bring positive outcomes to fruition.
Allegheny County Jail Oversight Board Public Meetings can be found here for you to review: UCRgC7gyGnUg6uNmkB6epb4w
We call for just and moral treatment for the incarcerated, detainees, correctional officers, and medical staff at the Allegheny County Jail. We call to mind the 19 people who have died under the leadership at the ACJ since April 2020:
- April 11, 2020: Richard Lenhart, 49
- May 24, 2020: Robert Blake, 36
- October 1, 2020: Cody Still, 29
- June 2020: Daniel Pastorek. 63.
- November 20, 2020: John Brady, 40
- July 3, 2021: Martin Bucek, 55
- Sept 12, 2021: Robert Harper, 48
- Sept 20, 2021: Vinckley Harris, 48
- Sept 23, 2021: Justin Brady, 38
- October 9, 2021: Paul Allen, 55
- December 22, 2021: Roger Millspaugh
- Jan. 22, 2022: Paul Spisak, 77
- March 6, 2022 - Gerald Thomas, 26
- April 28, 2022: Jerry Lee Ross Jr., 48
- July 13, 2022: Victor Joseph Zilinek, 39
- August 14, 2022: Ronald Andrus, 78
- April 15, 2023:Wiilliam Spencer, 24
- May 8th, 2023: James Washington, 42
- May 25th, 2023: Tim Manino, 60
We implore you to join us as we seek just, humane, and moral reform at the Allegheny County Jail. Please appoint a county legal representative to attend the monthly Allegheny County Jail Oversight Board meetings as soon as possible.
In solidarity,
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Updates
July 6, 2023
George Janockso continues to ignore his clear legal duty while the county jail remains a chaotic mess. I am tired of the silence and the refusal to provide basic oversight during these meetings. We are keeping the pressure on until they stop treating the law like a suggestion.
5 Comments
About time someone held them accountable. Getting tired of seeing the dysfunction every month.
This whole thing is a mess. How can they run a jail board without anyone there to make sure they are following the law? Its ridiculous.
It’s a travesty that the JOB has no lawyers
The prison's population--staff and incarcerated individuals--as well as their families and the county's taxpayers deserve appropriate professional, transparent and legally administered oversight and management of the county jail. It is the county's biggest expense item each year, and it houses over 1,500 vulnerable people, including children and young people who are sent there despite laws against housing juveniles with adults. Issues that affect those vulnerable people and the staff charged with their maintenance and welfare suffer from unnecessary deaths, poor-quality food, inadequate mental and physical health considerations, and other serious deficits. Without proper legal attention by the county, the JOB will continue to flounder in dysfunction, putting the county at legal and financial risk. Please provide legal counsel at every JOB meeting, public or otherwise, so taxpayers' and the public's best interests are served. Thank you for your consideration of this heartfelt plea. -- Ann McStay
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Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Allegheny County Legal Representation for Jail Oversight Board Meetings
Final supporters
Dear Allegheny County Chief Legal Officer George Janockso:
The Pennsylvania Interfaith Impact Network (PIIN), coalition partners, and concerned county residents ask that you appoint a county legal representative to attend the monthly Allegheny County Jail Oversight Board meetings to:
- To provide necessary legal counsel in all matters relating to the Board's oversight of the Allegheny County Jail and other agencies that house the incarcerated, formerly incarcerated, and returning citizens.
- To assist in enforcing Roberts Rules of Order.
- To ensure the Board is operating in compliance with the PA state statute Title 61 in how it governs, votes, and functions. https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/LI/cons... placing special emphasis on the powers and duties of the Board in section 1724 and the law that states "the board shall investigate allegations of inadequate prison conditions and improper practices occurring within the prison and may make such other investigations or reviews of prison operation and maintenance. The books, papers and records of the prison, including, but not limited to, the papers and records of the warden and those relating to individual inmates, shall at all times be available for inspection by the board."
We are tax paying citizens and are appalled at the dysfunction, disorganization, and lack of adherence to the state statutes in how the JOB currently operates. The June 2023 Jail Oversight Board meeting was one of many examples that clearly show the lack of leadership on the Board, and the ineffectiveness of it to bring positive outcomes to fruition.
Allegheny County Jail Oversight Board Public Meetings can be found here for you to review: UCRgC7gyGnUg6uNmkB6epb4w
We call for just and moral treatment for the incarcerated, detainees, correctional officers, and medical staff at the Allegheny County Jail. We call to mind the 19 people who have died under the leadership at the ACJ since April 2020:
- April 11, 2020: Richard Lenhart, 49
- May 24, 2020: Robert Blake, 36
- October 1, 2020: Cody Still, 29
- June 2020: Daniel Pastorek. 63.
- November 20, 2020: John Brady, 40
- July 3, 2021: Martin Bucek, 55
- Sept 12, 2021: Robert Harper, 48
- Sept 20, 2021: Vinckley Harris, 48
- Sept 23, 2021: Justin Brady, 38
- October 9, 2021: Paul Allen, 55
- December 22, 2021: Roger Millspaugh
- Jan. 22, 2022: Paul Spisak, 77
- March 6, 2022 - Gerald Thomas, 26
- April 28, 2022: Jerry Lee Ross Jr., 48
- July 13, 2022: Victor Joseph Zilinek, 39
- August 14, 2022: Ronald Andrus, 78
- April 15, 2023:Wiilliam Spencer, 24
- May 8th, 2023: James Washington, 42
- May 25th, 2023: Tim Manino, 60
We implore you to join us as we seek just, humane, and moral reform at the Allegheny County Jail. Please appoint a county legal representative to attend the monthly Allegheny County Jail Oversight Board meetings as soon as possible.
In solidarity,
Updates
July 6, 2023
George Janockso continues to ignore his clear legal duty while the county jail remains a chaotic mess. I am tired of the silence and the refusal to provide basic oversight during these meetings. We are keeping the pressure on until they stop treating the law like a suggestion.
5 Comments
Disagreements about what is legal at the board meetings need yo be resolved promptly.
About time someone held them accountable. Getting tired of seeing the dysfunction every month.
This whole thing is a mess. How can they run a jail board without anyone there to make sure they are following the law? Its ridiculous.
It’s a travesty that the JOB has no lawyers
The prison's population--staff and incarcerated individuals--as well as their families and the county's taxpayers deserve appropriate professional, transparent and legally administered oversight and management of the county jail. It is the county's biggest expense item each year, and it houses over 1,500 vulnerable people, including children and young people who are sent there despite laws against housing juveniles with adults. Issues that affect those vulnerable people and the staff charged with their maintenance and welfare suffer from unnecessary deaths, poor-quality food, inadequate mental and physical health considerations, and other serious deficits. Without proper legal attention by the county, the JOB will continue to flounder in dysfunction, putting the county at legal and financial risk. Please provide legal counsel at every JOB meeting, public or otherwise, so taxpayers' and the public's best interests are served. Thank you for your consideration of this heartfelt plea. -- Ann McStay
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Disagreements about what is legal at the board meetings need yo be resolved promptly.