Allegheny County Implements Payments for Incarcerated Individuals to Support Safety and Reentry

Tue, 05 May 2026 11:27:00 +0200

Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, has launched a policy to provide cash payments to people held in the Allegheny County Jail, a program that has sparked national attention and local debate. The payments include a monthly allowance for all incarcerated individuals, funded by commissary, phone, and tablet revenues, as well as compensation for voluntary work and educational programs, approximately $5 per day. The policy is grounded in the reality that most of the jail population has not been convicted—about 46% are awaiting trial, and 36% are detained for alleged probation violations. Only a small portion, roughly 8%, are serving sentences for misdemeanor or low-level felony convictions. The initiative aims to address gaps in access to basic necessities, reduce conflicts driven by scarcity in jail, and improve the legitimacy of jail systems, which can promote rule-following behavior. Additionally, providing financial resources at the point of release may assist with transportation, commissa