Jody DiPerna On Tuesday, December 5, City of Asylum will present a collection of short films through Beyond Walls, followed by a conversation moderated by the Pittsburgh Institute for Nonprofit Journalism. This collection of short…
Stripped: Unveiling the unseen trauma of strip searching…
Tanisha Long Editor's Note: This essay is part of our series exploring the juvenile justice landscape in Pittsburgh with a focus on education and mental health. These stories were funded by Staunton Farm Foundation and…
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…