The Department of Public Safety has informed that yet another detainee lost their life at the city jail in St. Louis this morning.
In the early morning hours, a detainee was discovered in his cell at the City Justice Center. It is believed that he had attempted to take his own life. Emergency services were called, and he was quickly transported to a nearby hospital. Tragically, despite the efforts of medical professionals, he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. The identity of the detainee has not been released at this time.
Two days into the new medical provider’s oversight of healthcare at the facility, a tragic death occurred. The city had recently announced that a new emergency contract with Physician Correctional, USA had been signed to replace YesCare as the jail’s medical provider, starting on Friday.
The decision to make changes was primarily driven by a series of fatalities that occurred at the troubled jail, with three deaths occurring within a span of six weeks in September alone. This morning’s tragic incident marks the eleventh death of a detainee at the city jail within a period of two years.
On Tuesday, after months of being denied access, the city’s Detention Facilities Oversight Board finally gained entry into the jail. Three members of the board were able to visit and inspect the facility.
According to the Reverend Darryl Gray, he and two other board members had requested to see the medical unit. However, they were taken to the jail’s fifth floor instead, where no detainees are held. There, they had a 50-minute conversation with Jennifer Clemons-Abdullah, the jail’s warden.
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According to a statement made by Monte Chambers, spokesman for the Department of Public Safety, the Division of Corrections is committed to ensuring the health and safety of detainees. Chambers stated that the incident is currently being investigated and that the Medical Examiner’s office has been notified. Further updates will be provided once more information becomes available.
In a recent interview with KSDK, Clemons-Abdullah was asked about her thoughts on the safety of the jail for detainees and staff. She acknowledged that nothing can be guaranteed to be 100 percent safe because of the unpredictability of people. However, she emphasized that whenever she becomes aware of any issues, she takes immediate action to address them.
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