ALLEGHENY COUNTY JAIL WARDEN ORLANDO HARPER has announced his retirement after 11 years as warden. His last day is Sept. 29.
Allegheny County Jail Warden Orlando Harper has announced his retirement, effective Sept. 29.
For some, it’s a sad moment. For others, they were dancing in the streets upon learning of the news.
“I have been honored to serve in this role for over a decade and am announcing my retirement with mixed feelings,” Harper said in a statement sent to the New Pittsburgh Courier, Aug. 8, by the county. “When I first accepted this position in 2012, my intent was to remain here through the end of this administration. While that’s just a few months away, circumstances have changed with my family and, because of that, I’ve moved that end date up.”
Harper, who is Black, can celebrate many achievements and improvements during his tenure, according to the county. In 2018, the jail received re-accreditation by the American Correctional Association and Pa. Dept. of Corrections. The review found that the jail met 100 percent of the 62 mandatory standards and 98.6 percent of the 323 non-mandatory standards.
In 2016, the jail launched a pilot program using tables for inmates to better connect them with resources and tools while incarcerated, according to the county. The program has been viewed a success, according to the county, with incarcerated individuals having better access to learning tools and better options for incarcerated people’s spare time on housing units. The program has been expanded to include virtual visitations, to make calls, and to use the tablets to request healthcare, order commissary items, change an emergency contact, file a grievance, and more, the county said.
But on the flip side, there have been numerous deaths at the Allegheny County Jail under Harper’s leadership. Organizations like the Alliance for Police Accountability, led by Brandi Fisher, have lambasted Harper over the years for what she has called unsafe, unsanitary conditions for inmates at the jail.
“I have always preferred to let actions speak louder than words—sometimes to my detriment,” Harper said in a statement. “Regardless of the public narrative about the jail, I’ve seen firsthand the great work done here every day. This dedicated staff has saved and improved countless lives. I’m proud of the work that they’ve done, and the progress that we’ve made together, and thank them for their dedication and commitment to the people we serve each day.”
The Alliance for Police Accountability, in a statement sent to the Courier, sees things differently.
“While his retirement is exciting news for the residents of Allegheny County, we have been fighting for years to get Warden Harper fired,” said Kyna James, Coalition Organizer for APA. “His departure is long overdue, and it has taken 20 people losing their lives for this to happen. Harper should not be able to leave with a pension, and enjoy retirement when he is a vital part of the torture, and death that has occurred at the Allegheny County Jail. And not just him, County Executive Rich Fitzgerald as well.”
“There are still many dangers our neighbors face inside that need to be addressed at the Allegheny County Jail,” added Rachel Nunes, executive director of the Thomas Merton Center, part of a coalition of factions that demanded changes at the Allegheny County Jail. “We are still a long way from having a facility that is safe, respects the human rights of each individual incarcerated, and moves the system towards restorative and rehabilitative practices. Our work does not stop here.”
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