G 20 Summit Protesters Welcome to the Allegheny County Jail

According to the WPXI-TV website, County Executives had a little house cleaning done at the county jail to make room for the G 20 summit's protesters. If you are the parent or loved one of someone who made the trek to good old Pittsburgh, PA just to protest, you may want to read my Associated Content Article on the ACJ. Since most will make bail, they will most likely never go upstairs. If they are going to stick around for their preliminary hearing, they will indeed go upstairs. Additionally, if they can not give a local address, the chance of being held until their preliminary hearing is a pretty good one. The following tour is based on a male inmate perspective. Female should be similar, the major difference being the females are grouped and guided by female guards whenever possible.

Since the above-mentioned article ends at the area where you make bail or go to the Segregated Housing Unit (SHU), that is were we will begin. Before that trip upstairs, the new inmate will have received their new ID bracelet and go turn in their clothes. You will be given a receipt for said clothes, two sets of 'reds' (the official attire there), a blanket (much akin to those given out at disaster relief sites), a welcoming packet of some prison industries toiletries, and a dose of brown, anti-vermin shampoo. After a quick shower, you go to another holding cell, with the now hopefully lice-free others and wait. Once this batch is done, a guard, better known as CO (corrections officer) will take you and your group up to the 4^th floor, the home of the SHU.

You will get split up into those going to A, B, or C pods. The only difference in those places is their nomenclature and the views. The CO will assign you to a cell and that is where you will spend most of your time until you get classified and go to your home pod, or you get bailed out. The SHU has problems other pods do not so be prepared for them. Most suicides in jail take place there, so the lights are on 24/7. You will have a minimum of recreation time, limited primarily to after breakfast clean up, a little time after lunch clean up, and maybe 2 hours after dinner clean up. You will probably spend most of your time sleeping or getting to know your cell mate (cellie).

Beware of anyone who is too curious about your case, those who take the hardened criminal posture, and those determined to cry and belly ache to the COs every chance they get. For parents and loved ones who want to write or send some money here is the format:

Prisoner Name, DOC#

Allegheny County Jail

950 Second Avenue

Pittsburgh, PA 15219-3131

Any money Order (no checks) should be made out to the inmate WITH THEIR DOC NUMBER NEXT TO THEIR NAME.

If you want to visit PLEASE CALL 412-350-2000 for specific details.

You can call home BUT be patient. When your narrator went through the through 7 ½ years ago, there were 10 phones for 200 inmates. Wait in line and let others dispense their jailhouse justice to line jumpers. As someone in for protesting, the last thing you need is another case while waiting for your hearing on this one. Now all that is left is to wait. Your fate and near future will depend on your preliminary hearing, usually held between five and ten days since your arraignment. Thank you for visiting the G-20 Summit, Pittsburgh, PA and the Allegheny County Jail. Loved ones reading this to get a handle on what and where your protester is please take the time to read the articles for more information regarding the ACJ system on http://associatedcontent.com/tpm