Jody DiPerna When we started talking about forming the Pittsburgh Institute for Nonprofit Journalism in March of 2020, we did not know how the readers would respond or how sustainable it would be, but we…
Here’s how we created Pa.’s first-ever jail-death database
Brittany Hailer and Joshua Vaughn Editor’s Note: This investigation was supported by a grant from the Pulitzer Center. To create Pennsylvania’s first-ever database of in-custody deaths, the Pittsburgh Institute for Nonprofit Journalism and PennLive had to navigate…
How many deaths occurred in your county’s jail?…
Brittany Hailer and Joshua Vaughn Editor’s Note: This investigation was supported by a grant from the Pulitzer Center. The lack of proper reporting by Pennsylvania jails is widespread, resulting in severe undercounting of in-custody deaths in the…
Deaths in Pa. jails are undercounted. Our investigation…
Brittany Hailer and Joshua Vaughn Editor’s Note: This investigation was supported by a grant from the Pulitzer Center. Jeff Lagrotteria and Tina Talotta waited 30 minutes before doctors would allow them to enter the hospital room where…
Allegheny County Jail health services administrator resigns
Brittany Hailer Allegheny County Jail Health Services Administrator Ashley Brinkman has resigned from her position according to internal emails obtained by the Pittsburgh Institute for Nonprofit Journalism. Brinkman's email states, "Because I don’t want to…
Choking death in Allegheny County Jail ruled an…
By Brittany Hailer A man accidentally choked to death in the Allegheny County Jail, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner. Douglas Bonomo, 59, died in the Allegheny County Jail’s mental health unit on July…
Third Incarcerated Person Dies Following Detox Protocol at…
Brittany Hailer A third incarcerated person has died after being placed on the Allegheny County Jail’s detox protocol this year. Zachary Sahm, 27, was placed on the jail’s detoxification protocol after testing positive for fentanyl,…
Records released from Allegheny Medical Examiner after court…
Brittany Hailer Daniel Pastorek died over two years ago, on Thanksgiving Day, 2020, in a mental health unit in the Allegheny County Jail. He struggled with housing and suffered from schizophrenia. He was arrested and…
UPDATED: Allegheny County’s juvenile detention contract valued at…
While the county seeks bids for “phase one” renovations, state documents indicate Allegheny County sought private ownership to take over the shuttered former juvenile detention facility By Brittany Hailer and Brian Conway This story is…