PITTSBURGH -- The Allegheny County Jail board met on Thursday without discussing a controversial question about inmates who are moved to minimum security facilities in order to prevent overcrowding.

At least one facility, the Renewal Inc. center on the Boulevard of the Allies has been allowing its residents to attend baseball games at PNC Park and workout at gyms.

However, the center now says it will no longer allow inmates to leave for reasons other than work.

Several common pleas judges were upset because they did not approve any such release.

They said it's their understanding that the only reason inmates would leave those facilities is to go to work.

Allegheny County Sheriff Bill Mullen said he met with the Allegheny County District Attorney’s office about the issue on Thursday morning, and determined there was likely nothing criminal about the practice, but thought it would be halted, at least until a meeting with the judges.

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