Jennifer Clemons-Abdullah

The jail director, who reports to St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones, was known to be at odds with the city's Detention Facility Oversight Board over the lack of transparency and conditions at the City Justice Center.

The Rev. Darryl Gray said he is more hopeful for reform after a recent conversation with Commissioner of Corrections Jennifer Clemons-Abdullah.

St. Louis corrections chief Jennifer Clemons-Abdullah has returned after an unexplained three-month leave, and the former head of St. Louis County’s jail is working to assess and recommend fixes to the city jail.

Jail deaths at the City Justice Center in St. Louis are slightly higher than public safety officials previously shared and much higher than online reports show. But deaths at the CJC so far this year are the lowest they’ve been since 2021.

Activists have been demanding the resignation of Jennifer Clemons-Abdullah since 2023. At least 11 detainees have died at the City Justice Center since 2022, and there have been multiple protests against conditions at the facility.

St. Louis public health officials said Thursday that they’re facing an uphill battle at St. Louis City Justice Center because the city’s health department has long been underfunded and is catching up on its review of detainee medical records.

Two inmates with a history of disciplinary problems took the guard, a man in his 70s, hostage during breakfast service around 6 a.m. A police SWAT team had to use less-than-lethal force to rescue him.

The St. Louis Detention Facilities Oversight Board wants the city’s top officials to ask the Commissioner of Corrections Jennifer Clemons-Abdullah to resign by Friday. Board members say she is blocking them from entering the jail and investigating complaints of alleged misconduct.

The $7 million project installed new locks and mesh on the windows, in addition to securing guard workstations.