The former acting director credited with bringing stability to the St. Louis County Justice Center has been appointed interim commissioner of corrections for St. Louis.
Mayor Tishaura Jones’ office announced Monday that Doug Burris has been hired to serve as commissioner on a provisional basis. The city initially hired Burris in early December to assess and recommend fixes to the troubled St. Louis City Justice Center, where at least 18 detainees have died at the jail since 2020. Burris said he was slightly nervous to take the job but ultimately believes improvements are imminent.
“My wife asked me, ‘Why would you take this job?’ And I said, ‘Because I think it is set up for success, and I think you will see that success in the short term,’” Burris said Monday at a press conference at City Hall in downtown St. Louis.
Public safety officials in recent months have touted that jail deaths last year were the lowest they’ve been since 2021 after two detainees died. Jones tasked Burris with implementing a number of the recommendations from his report in the first 60 days of his tenure.
“Even though the City Justice Center in St. Louis has improved in some ways during my tenure, the fact is that we need our jail to continue to improve, be safer, better equipped to bring down recidivism rates, and gain community trust,” Jones said in a statement. “Doug’s experience and professional insight will bring us a long way.”
Last month, advocates for change at St. Louis’ jail downplayed the city’s decision to hire Burris as a consultant as just another turn in a carousel of jail assessments and audits that have failed to produce change.
St. Louis Board of Aldermen President Megan Green said Monday on the social media site X that she looks forward to supporting Burris.
“The appointment of Doug Burris as the City Justice Center’s interim Commissioner is a step forward for those awaiting trial,” Green’s post reads. “While CJC residents are in our custody, they must have their basic needs met, access to proper medical care, and the right to due process.”
Report findings
Burris said he began on Dec. 10 and, over six weeks, interviewed more than 150 people, including jail staff, detainees and attorneys.
“What I learned from these individuals, and in my own observations at the facility, is that the St. Louis Justice Center needs immediate change as it pertains to staffing, operations, policies and procedures,” Burris said in the report. “Some of these changes can be easy and quick, but others will take time and investment.”
Recommendations in his CJC report include having more corrections officers at the jail, providing more financial incentives for experienced staff to act as mentors for new hires, and ensuring that new officers complete 120 days of employment with a mentor’s guidance. The report highlights that while the CJC’s detainee population increased by 40% over the last three years, the size of the staff decreased by 32%.
The CJC’s population was 765 as of early December, compared to 546 at the end of 2021, 538 in 2022 and 657 detainees in 2023.
There were 103 corrections officers on staff at the end of 2024, compared to 157 officers in 2021, 114 in 2022 and 106 in 2023. The report found that COVID contributed to the loss of staff, both at the jail and nationally in countless organizations and businesses.
Burris found that the building’s functions, such as heating, air, plumbing and electrical wiring, must also be assessed.
“Electrical outlets exist in many of the cells with no purpose, and there is clear evidence that detainees have found a way to break into them to create sparks that lead to fires,” Burris’ report reads.
Burris said while there were many negatives, he also found some positives during his investigation, including how respected Deputy Commissioner Tammy Ross is among staff and detainees, as well as working with Dr. Mati Hlatshwayo Davis, the city's health director.
“The various conversations with people left me inspired when nearly across the board they shared their ideas on how to better operations at the facility and their wanting to work in unison to make the jail safer and more functional,” the report reads.
Other recommendations:
● Analyze staff culture and outline steps to leadership to improve it.
● Emergency incident responses needed relating to the health and well-being of inmates in the Justice Center.
● Review protocols regarding emergency incidents and provide recommendations.
● Review of the training protocols regarding emergency incidents.
● Improve coordination among the sheriff’s office, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Health Department.
● Evaluate current jail population trends and recommend protocols for housing and options to improve housing options.
