The best way to reduce crime is to keep people out of jail

Despite claims to the contrary, Allegheny County is safer today than at any time since 2019. However, the very programs and improvements that made this progress possible must continue to receive adequate funding from the state and the Allegheny County Department of Human Services (DHS) — and after a weekslong battle, local officials have agreed, keeping the county department’s funding steady over the next year.

DHS offers the community-based services and legal system improvements that have been critical to Allegheny County’s success in reducing crime. The current budget will provide a vital lifeline for these programs. A quick look at the data shows why.

After a wave of changes to policing, pretrial detention and probation violation practices, the local jail population has shrunk by 28%. A reduction in jail population doesn’t necessarily mean a drop in crime, but in Allegheny County, during this same time period, crime and violence also decreased significantly.

The number of people required to pay bond for their release has plummeted, due to a new risk assessments that more appropriately determines who should be jailed before trial. At the same time, fewer people are being locked up for probation violations. And finally, public defenders are now provided at initial court appearances, reducing the number of jail bookings overall. 

The benefits of release

This isn’t just about simply reducing jail populations, however. Keeping people jailed who are not a threat because they are too poor to post bond is costly and counterproductive. At $107 per day per jail bed, those spaces should be reserved for individuals who truly pose a public safety risk.

At this phase of the process, people held in jail while they wait for trial are legally innocent. But, compared to people who are released while awaiting trial, they are more likely to plead guilty despite legal or factual innocence. They also receive longer sentences and are more likely to be rearrested. This makes our communities less safe in the long term, on top of being expensive for taxpayers.

These individuals are also unlikely to be able to afford an attorney. In fact, 80% of people charged with a crime in Allegheny County cannot hire a criminal defense attorney. They have a constitutional right to this representation, one which the county is obligated to provide.

Lacking resources 

Unfortunately, Allegheny County has struggled to fulfill this duty in the past — largely because public defenders don’t have the resources they need — which has ended in expensive lawsuits. Compared to prosecutors, public defenders receive less funding than prosecuting attorneys, prompting calls for the governor to provide additional funding.

As the people of Pittsburgh know, the best offense is a good defense. Allegheny County has already benefited from providing public defenders at preliminary arraignments, but these attorneys and their office are understaffed and underfunded.

For too long, public defenders and their clients have had to rely on external service providers to complement their antiquated and under-resourced public defender system.

Allegheny County has long relied on research and a collaborative approach to determine the best way to increase community safety and wisely invest in programming. DHS has worked diligently to coordinate a host of community-based resources and criminal justice system process changes to support these efforts.

The data proves that county residents are safer and their tax dollars are better spent with this funding in place. Pennsylvania must continue to invest in proven strategies that increase the chances that crime will continue to decline and that tax dollars and other resources will be used in the most effective and efficient manner.