Congresswoman Cori Bush Receives City’s Response Committing to Basic Transparency After Inquiry Regarding Conditions at the City Justice Center, Calls for More Protections
“St. Louis needs and deserves transparency from all levels of government. I am pleased that the City has responded to my letter raising the concerns of our community members and organizers who have long demanded transparency and human rights protections for every person incarcerated at the City Justice Center (CJC).
“I believe that daylight is the best disinfectant, and the news from the City that they will begin publicly releasing data on COVID-19 testing and case rates is a welcome step forward. We know that prisons and jails can be incubators for infectious disease outbreaks, especially rapidly spreading viruses like COVID-19. Because of our request — a request that considered the voices of activists, organizers, public defense attorneys, and family members of those who are incarcerated at CJC — the people of St. Louis will now have regular access to crucial COVID-19 data, including the number of tests administered and the number of positive cases, which will allow us to better protect the health and safety of those at CJC during this pandemic.
“While encouraged by these critical steps towards accountability, I still have deep concerns about the conditions and testing capacity at the jails. Less than one test per person has been conducted across the City’s two jails. Today, the city jail population stands at 878 people, but--as of the week of February 9th--just 752 tests had been administered since this pandemic started almost a year ago. Preventing the spread of this virus, which disproportionately kills Black and brown people, those with underlying conditions, and the aging population requires that we regularly test so that we can isolate and care for those who become infected. It is incumbent upon the City to ramp up testing protocols and other prevention measures such as clean masks and uninterrupted water access to allow for frequent hand washing and to ensure these efforts meet the standards set out by the CDC.
“This letter marks the beginning of the work we will continue to do with the City and the community to ensure that the health, safety, and wellbeing of all members of our community, including those involved in our criminal legal system, is top of mind for everyone. As a community, we must continue to remain vigilant in our efforts to ensure full transparency and protections are provided in our local jails.”
The response from the City can be viewed on the Congresswoman’s website, here.