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St. Louis Justice Center director details new programs even as staffing and medical costs strain budget
Summary
Acting corrections leaders told the Board of Aldermen budget committee that the St. Louis Justice Center is expanding education, treatment and reentry programs while facing staff shortages, cuts to training and a jump in the medical contract that together are driving a larger budget request.
Acting Commissioner Doug Burris told the Board of Aldermen’s Budget and Public Employees Committee on May 21 that the St. Louis Justice Center (CJC) is increasing in-jail education and treatment programs while grappling with persistent staffing shortages and a rising medical contract.
Burris said the facility at 200 South Tucker holds about 750 detainees, an increase of roughly 40 percent over four years, and that many detainees are awaiting trial rather than being convicted. He highlighted new and expanded programs — a GED partnership with St. Louis Public Schools; an opiate intervention program led by the Rev. Burton Barr; an employment-preparation program run by SLATE (Prison to Prosperity); a SafeServe food-handling certification; a veterans program in partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; and planned opioid addiction treatment with Gateway Foundation — as central to reducing recidivism and helping residents reenter the community.
Why it matters: the department presented a larger budget request while saying its ability to operate programming and basic staff supports is constrained by unfilled positions, forced overtime…
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