St. Louis Division of Corrections

The guard was treated for injuries to his face. The investigation is ongoing.

An unidentified man in his 50s was pronounced dead Tuesday night at a local hospital after suffering a medical emergency at the jail, police say.

Hayward’s first day as the commissioner of corrections at the St. Louis City Justice Center was Sept. 16. The New Jersey native spent over 32 years at the county jail and says he has an open door policy for activists.

The former jail oversight board leader is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. Mensah says they were beaten unconscious by police while visiting the jail in 2023.

Looking back, Burris says he wishes he had formed partnerships sooner and expressed pride in serving his staff amid challenging conditions at the jail.

Outgoing Commissioner Doug Burris speaks highly of Ross despite controversy and leaves a staff of nearly 100 correctional officers at the troubled St. Louis Justice Center, where 20 detainees have died in custody since 2020.

Upon leaving custody, ServSafe-certified participants are qualified to apply for jobs at restaurants, grocery stores and other food service companies.

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.

The 35-year-old was left in his own feces for days, his attorney said.

Mayor Tishaura Jones first appointed members of the Detention Facilities Oversight Board in 2022, but legal battles and a failure to complete required training meant the board could not access the downtown jail until now.