Warden, Allegheny County Jail

About Pittsburgh and Allegheny County

Allegheny County (pop. 1.23 million) is the second most populous county in Pennsylvania and home to Pittsburgh, the state’s second-largest city. Pittsburgh was named a top 2026 global destination by National Geographic. With a median household income of $80,000, 40% more primary care doctors per capita than state and national averages, and a strong base of world-class universities and health systems, the region offers exceptional quality of life, outstanding schools, and deep civic infrastructure. Pittsburgh offers a rare combination: a city small enough to get every key stakeholder in the room, yet large enough to drive policy change with national visibility that is backed by progressive elected leadership willing to think ambitiously and support creative solutions.

Allegheny County’s diversity is a lived reality throughout its neighborhoods, workplaces, and governance. Through inclusive engagement and its commitment to collaborative governance, the county understands the disparities that continue to exist and works towards building a community where every resident feels represented, valued, and empowered to thrive.

About Allegheny County Government

Allegheny County is governed by the County Executive, Sara Innamorato, an appointed County Manager, and a 15-member elected County Council. The County government works in partnership with 130 self-governing municipalities across the county.

Executive Innamorato’s priorities for County Government all support the idea of making Allegheny County a “county for all.” To achieve this vision, Allegheny County Government is making significant investments in the following areas:

• Economic Development: Supporting business districts to ensure their vitality and increase opportunities through the Allegheny Together program.

• Transportation: Expanding the Bus Rapid Transit service and modernizing both the light rail system and Pittsburgh International Airport.

• Employee Benefits: Guaranteeing a range of benefits to County employees on their first day on the job, including parental, sick, and vacation leave as well as time off under the Family Medical Leave Act.

• Healthcare: Increasing access and convenience to high-quality, affordable healthcare for all residents.

• Environmental Health & Sustainability: Providing low-cost, long-term financing for energy efficiency, renewable energy, and water conservation projects via the Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy program.

• Housing: Increasing access to long-term housing with the “500 in 500” plan to make 500 units available to people in the county’s shelters within 500 days, starting in June 2024.

About the Allegheny County Jail

Built in 1995, the Allegheny County Jail (ACJ) is a high-rise, direct-supervision jail located in downtown Pittsburgh. Incarcerated individuals committed by the Courts are housed at the ACJ facility and at two alternative housing facilities. While the facility has a capacity of more than 3,000, the average daily population has been below 2,000 for the past few years (average daily population in from 1/1/2026 - 08/13/2026 was around 1,710 individuals each day) This reduction is due to ongoing efforts with partners such as the Safety + Justice Challenge, which focuses on the continued reduction of the number of individuals incarcerated at the facility and promoting programs to help people successfully reenter society.

ACJ is accredited by the American Correctional Association (ACA). It is one of only three ACA-accredited Adult Local Correctional Facilities in Pennsylvania. In 2024, Pennsylvania started operating under a Medicaid 1115 Demonstration Waiver, giving agencies in the Commonwealth (including ACJ) greater latitude to improve the overall population health outcomes for Medicaid beneficiaries diagnosed with chronic medical, mental health, and substance use disorder needs.

Oversight

The Allegheny County Jail Oversight Board ensures that the living conditions within the prison and alternative housing facilities support the wellbeing of their residents and that ACJ is being operated in accordance with its regulations and the laws and regulations of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and of the United States. County leadership worked hard to create a positive relationship with the Jail Oversight Board, and interactions with the Board are honest and constructive.

The Board investigates allegations of inadequate prison conditions and improper practices occurring within the ACJ 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 incarcerated individuals, shall at all times be available for inspection by the Board.

At least twice annually, Board Members conduct an unannounced inspection of ACJ’s physical plant during which they interview a cross section of incarcerated individuals, out of the presence of the Warden and their agents, to determine the conditions within the prison and alternative housing facilities.

Programs

Allegheny County Jail provides a wide range of services to support residents’ wellbeing, health, and rehabilitation and facilitate their successful reentry including:

• Substance Use Programs

• Case Management Services

• Pre-Release and Aftercare Services

• Re-Entry Programs

• Veterans Services Unit

• Alternative Housing

• Educational Programs

• Chaplaincy Program

• Virtual Meeting Services

About the Warden of the Allegheny County Jail

“Our community members…who are incarcerated…deserve our respect and investments so they can live full and dignified lives too.”

– Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato

Nothing sets the tone for the work of the next Warden more than these public words from Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato. With her plans to develop stronger youth programs, promote workforce equity, and increase access to affordable housing, Executive Innamorato seeks a region in which incarceration is the exception, not the rule. When incarceration is necessary, the priority will be the safety of staff and residents and the residents’ well-being and preparation for their successful return to society.

Profile and Duties

The next Warden of the Allegheny County Jail (ACJ) will have broad responsibility for its operations, the residents within, the various programs administered by the jail (solely and in partnership with other organizations), the performance of the staff of ACJ, and compliance with all relevant policies and laws.

The following vision for the experience, values, and commitments of the next Warden is inspired by the mandate set forth by Executive Innamorato.

Specifically, the Warden will be:

• Collaborative – with a demonstrated ability to work respectfully and successfully with community groups, oversight boards, and legal community;

• Fair-minded and inspirational – committed to the success and professional development of staff and the well-being of jail residents;

• Person-centered – valuing the lived experience of system-impacted individuals and committed to having their voices inform ACJ policies; and

• Visionary – with a clear articulation of the systemic injustices that contribute to incarceration and a commitment to decision-making with this reality in mind.

Qualifications

Qualified applicants will have a Bachelor’s degree in public policy, criminal justice, psychology, sociology, social work, public health, health administration, public administration, or a related field and at least 6 years of progressively responsible professional experience – preferably in the context of facilities that focus on rehabilitation or education – including the professional development of staff and responsibility for those under their care. Additional experience may be considered a substitution for education.

Candidates are not required to have a lengthy corrections-specific career. Individuals with significant leadership and management experience from adjacent fields, including public defense, policy, or other human-services-oriented roles, are strongly encouraged to apply.

• Bachelor's degree in public policy, criminal justice, psychology, sociology, social work, public health, health administration, public administration, or a related field; advanced degree a plus

• Minimum of 8-10 years of progressively responsible professional experience, including at least 5 years in a senior leadership or management role with direct oversight of large teams and complex operations

• Demonstrated experience managing a large, diverse workforce in a unionized environment, including collective bargaining and labor relations

• Experience overseeing safety, security, and daily operations for a high-population facility or comparably complex public-sector organization

• Gifted communicator and skilled stakeholder navigator with a steady, credible public presence; composed under media scrutiny and comfort engaging with diverse stakeholders

• Track record of developing and implementing organizational policy and procedure at scale

• Working knowledge of correctional systems and applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations governing incarcerated populations; candidates need not come from a traditional corrections career- equivalent leadership experience from law (including public defense), policy, or human services roles is welcomed

• Experience managing large public budgets

• Deep knowledge of criminal justice system

Knowledge Areas

The next Warden of the Allegheny County Jail will be knowledgeable in the following areas:

• Best practices in correctional systems

• Federal, state and local laws, regulations and ordinances regarding the safety of incarcerated persons and the physical conditions in which they are held

• Principles of education and rehabilitation within prisons and outcomes regarding re-entry

• Experience partnering with health and human services agencies, or overseeing rehabilitative, behavioral health, or substance use treatment programming

• Motivating and supporting staff and setting clear expectations for organizational success

• Long-standing disparities within the criminal legal system

Track Record of Success

The next Warden of the Allegheny County Jail will have a track record of success in the following areas:

• Staff support, development, and accountability

• Safety and security for residents, staff, and visitors

• Collective bargaining and unionized workforces

• Policy and procedure development and implementation

• Partnership with health and human services agencies, including Allegheny County DHS, to advance integrated, whole-person care for residents