Dale Glass

Attorneys claim in a lawsuit that corrections officers regularly abused three current and former inmates at the St. Louis City Justice Center. The federal lawsuit filed Monday claims that City Justice Center staff violated the constitutional rights of the inmates by using tear gas on them and depriving them of water.

St. Louis Corrections Commissioner Dale Glass will resign from his position on June 1, following months of criticism over the management and condition of the city's jails.

Inmates at the St. Louis Justice Center on Sunday night broke out of their cells, broke windows and demanded court dates that have been delayed for months by the pandemic. It was the second time in two months that inmates hacked the jail's locks.

St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson has formed a task force to investigate public health concerns in the city’s downtown jail. But advocates for inmates doubt the task force will accomplish much.

The head of St. Louis’ corrections department is warning that closing the north St. Louis jail known as the Workhouse could cause overcrowding at the city’s other jail downtown.