St. Louis City Justice Center

The inmate was found unresponsive after being treated for suspected seizures one day before the death. The City Justice Center has had three times as many deaths as similar jails in Kansas City and St. Louis County since 2020.

The St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment relaunched its program to help city jail detainees prepare to make careers in growing industries once released.

Interim Commissioner Doug Burris sat down with STLPR reporter Lacretia Wimbley to discuss how he’s navigating his new role amid public scrutiny and pending lawsuits against the St. Louis City Justice Center.

The lawsuit is the latest in a string of legal actions and investigations in the office.

The incident stems from a complaint lodged last week that alleges a detained person at the city jail was assaulted by a sheriff’s deputy.

The former St. Louis County jail director has been tasked with implementing some of the recommendations from his assessment report in the first 60 days of his tenure.

In addition to the resolutions, the Public Safety Committee heard from acting Commissioner of Corrections Tammy Ross, who says her priorities for now include focusing on staffing and fostering partnerships.

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.