Only medical director at Allegheny County Jail steps down, adds to growing list of vacancies

ALLEGHENY COUNTY, Pa. — Last week, the only medical director at the Allegheny County Jail stepped down, adding to the growing list of vacancies. Currently, 88 of the jail’s 162 medical positions are unfilled, with a vacancy rate of 54%.

“We’ve been fighting for this medicine for Denzelle to save his life, and now you don’t have a medical team,” said Cadiaera Kendrick, the mother of an inmate.

In a video recorded by another inmate last month, Kendrick’s 27-year-old son Denzelle is seen having a medical emergency.

Denzelle, who is in jail on assault charges, has been awaiting sentencing for the past year.

“When I watch the video and saw with my own eyes the treatment that he got, as a mother it killed me,” Kendrick said.

The jail houses 1,681 inmates, and a spokesperson said they are using contractors to attempt to fill the many open medical positions.

“I guess Sally will treat him Mondays and Thursdays. And Tuesday someone else will treat him and then when Sunday comes and he is in crisis, whoever is going to treat him that day won’t have a freaking clue,” Kendrick said.

Kendrick said jail staff has also changed his prescribed medications, eliminating many of the meds Denzelle has taken since birth.

“I have been fighting tooth and nail for them to provide adequate medical attention for my son. I don’t want him to die in jail,” Kendrick said.

But now without a medical director, Kendrick fears things will get worse.

“I love my son and I need him to be treated humanely,” Kendrick said.

A spokesperson for the jail said they are prevented from discussing any specific patient but confirmed that inmates are evaluated and prescribed medication from Allegheny Health Network providers.

Any medical history is requested from their existing provider.

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