22 Deaths but who's counting?

22 People have died in CJC since 2020 

Shame seems to be a concept of the past. Are we really okay with people dying while in custody and care of our city jail? No criminal charges have been filed against any corrections or medical staff in connection with the 22 in-custody deaths at the St. Louis City Justice Center (CJC). This is Prisonism.  

Prisonism is the dehumanization of people in prison. It’s displayed in systemic neglect that results in untimely, preventable deaths in custody. The worst element of this ideology is that its victims are blamed for their own mistreatment. While many who are incarcerated eventually accept this abuse, much of the public believes people in jail should suffer without a prescribed limit. This systemic cruelty is unacceptable on a legal, professional, and human level, but it is also financially costly. 

The cost of Prisonism 

Over the past 10 years, the St. Louis municipal jail system has paid out roughly $5 million to $6 million in total major legal settlements... and much more to come.  

Where does the settlement money come from? 

In the St. Louis City budget, the account designated for legal payouts is the Judgement Account. Money is allocated to this account from the city’s General Fund.  For the current fiscal cycle, $10.3 million was specifically allocated from accumulated interest earnings to the Judgement Account.  

Instead of paying for the backend costs of institutional failures, General Fund revenue can be allocated to beneficial programs such as: 

This is taxpayer money, and it’s a shame that we must pay for the carelessness of the Justice Center. Not only are we plagued with crime, but we’re also plagued with justice. Make it make sense. 

No charges filed 

The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department has conducted investigations into the deaths, but the Circuit Attorney’s Office has not received or issued any warrant applications relating to the incidents. While no criminal charges have been brought against personnel, several families of deceased have filed civil wrongful-death lawsuits against the city, corrections employees, and the jail’s private medical providers. The lack of criminal prosecution has recently prompted the St. Louis NAACP and Detention Facilities Oversight Board to formally request a deeper investigation into allegations of systemic medical neglect inside the facility.