Auditor's report shows St. Louis City Justice Center's low staffing the root of jail's healthcare issues

Missouri State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick's investigation into the St. Louis City Justice Center is complete. It's findings include understaffing being an infection issue that caused problems in other areas, healthcare in particular.

According to a letter sent to the City Justice Center by YesCare, the jail's former healthcare provider, the facility's insufficient staffing created "obstacles in achieving basic access to care for the detainee population."

YesCare points to detainees not going through appropriate intaking process preventing them from performing necessary health screenings as part of the issue. CJC staffing issues were the root of this issue according to YesCare.

Their letter also indicated YesCare staff have in some instances locked in housing units without custody staff present, an employee being carjacked and windshields smashed while parked by the jail.

According to the report, the jail's detainee to correction officer ratio has nearly doubled since 2022. What was a 4:1 detainee to correctional officer ratio in 2022 sits at 7:1 in March of this year. It peaked at 8:1 in 2023.

In the report, Commissioner Jennifer Clemens-Abdullah acknowledged the jail's poor reputation has contributed to the hiring issue. It goes on to say a potential solution to that staffing issue floated by Clemens-Abdullah is using all City Justice Center staff, including account clerks and administrative staff, as correctional officers if needed.

The report addresses potential issues with this idea, including training and skillsets for those responsible for detainees. Clemens-Abdullah indicated she has also worked to improve recruitment and retention by addressing officer salaries, which have increased from $34,000 to $46,000.

In regards to the Detention Facility Oversight Board's lack of access to the jail, the auditor's report says Clemens-Abdullah is improperly using U.S. law to circumvent the oversight authority of the board. The report also indicates the city's fear of potential civil litigation cannot be used to stay an investigation according to the ordinance which establishes the board.

Inadequate or lack of food has been a public concern regarding the jail. While the auditor did find there were 80 fewer meals served the day after last August's hostage situation, the meals served remained higher than the number of detainee population. The report indicates a further investigation would be needed to determine if fewer meals being served after an incident was a pattern.

KMOX has reached out to the city and a member of the Detention Facility Oversight Board for comment. The auditor's investigative summary can be found here.