St. Louis City Justice Center

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.

Nearly 100 protesters and activists disrupted a city Board of Aldermen meeting on Friday, calling for immediate changes to the St. Louis City Justice Center, where 18 people in custody have died since 2020.

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.

The two bills lay out access requirements for attorneys, elected officials, clergy and members of the Detention Facilities Oversight Board. Any person who inappropriately denies access could face a $500 fine.

Members of the St. Louis Detention Facilities Oversight Board met with a detainee at the St. Louis City Justice Center on Thursday and explained how inmates can let the board know about their plight.

The 35-year-old was left in his own feces for days, his attorney said.

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.