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I toured our jails in St. Louis City over the weekend with @saintlouismayor, @stlcao, @iKaylaReed, and our teams.
I need to tell you about the conditions we saw.
We need to have an honest conversation about how we treat people who are incarcerated in our country.
I need to tell you about the conditions we saw.
We need to have an honest conversation about how we treat people who are incarcerated in our country.
The detainees told us that the night before we arrived, there was feces on the ground.
The floors were wet when we got there, and they were still dirty.
They woke detainees up at night to clean the floors because they heard we were coming.
The floors were wet when we got there, and they were still dirty.
They woke detainees up at night to clean the floors because they heard we were coming.
There was an uprising at the CJC on April 4th. It was at least their 4th in 4 months because the conditions are so inhumane. One detainee was still wearing his clothes that were doused in mace. Detainees call it bear mace because it stings so bad. 22 days in clothes that burn.
Speaking of mace, corrections officers spray mace constantly—and they don’t file incident reports about it. That means hundreds of detainees have had force used against them with no record of it.
They described it as torture. I've been maced. I know that burn. It's inhumane.
They described it as torture. I've been maced. I know that burn. It's inhumane.
There are approximately 800 detainees across the two jails. They have been given less than 800 COVID-19 tests.
They have given ~1 test per detainee over the last year.
If you ask for a test, you’re sent to solitary confinement. Same thing if you request additional masks.
They have given ~1 test per detainee over the last year.
If you ask for a test, you’re sent to solitary confinement. Same thing if you request additional masks.
There are so many of our Black community members detained in these jails that are awaiting trial. The conditions are so abhorrent that detainees are begging for plea deals, even while they maintain their innocence.
They are begging to be sent to a penitentiary to escape jail.
They are begging to be sent to a penitentiary to escape jail.
The food has been filled with bugs. The food has been sludge. A detainee told us he wouldn’t feed it to his dog. We saw one tray of food and we couldn’t recognize what some of it was.
They know jail isn't a hotel. But we're talking about human beings. People deserve respect.
They know jail isn't a hotel. But we're talking about human beings. People deserve respect.
As we left, some detainees chanted, “Free the slaves.” Those were the last words I heard on our visit.
My soul is still haunted by these words. I hope this thread makes you feel uncomfortable. I know I still am. We have so much work to do.
My soul is still haunted by these words. I hope this thread makes you feel uncomfortable. I know I still am. We have so much work to do.
