The recent audit of the St. Louis County Jail is a wake-up call we cannot ignore.

Detainees are packed into overcrowded cells, some forced to sleep on the floor. Showers run cold. Black mold grows in the bathrooms. Meals are served on wet trays next to raw chicken and rotting vegetables. And with nearly 80 corrections officer vacancies, staff are overwhelmed and under-supported, while detainees suffer through excessive lockdowns and deteriorating conditions.

This is happening in our community — in a facility that once held the honor of being Missouri’s only nationally accredited jail. But now, that accreditation is at risk, and lives are being put in danger every day we delay action.

The Buzz Westfall Justice Center in Clayton urgently needs $36.5 million in repairs and reform efforts over the next five years. But money alone isn’t enough — we need leadership. The audit revealed vacant top positions, lack of teamwork, and years of instability. It’s time to stop patching holes and start building a humane, accountable justice system.

We, the undersigned, demand that the St. Louis County Executive Sam Page and the St. Louis County Council immediately:

• Allocate full funding for the $36.5 million in critical infrastructure improvements,
• Expedite hiring and training to fill staffing shortages,
• Appoint experienced and permanent leadership at the Department of Justice Services,
• And ensure regular public updates on reforms and living conditions inside the jail.

Incarcerated people are human beings. Staff deserve safe, functional workplaces. And our county should live up to its standards—not bury them under black mold, rust, and bureaucratic neglect.

If we don’t act now, we send a dangerous message: that the lives of those inside our jail are disposable. We won’t accept that. Sign this petition and help hold St. Louis County accountable.

Photo: Sarah Fentem / St. Louis Public Radio