St. Louis to pay $4M to Settle Jail Inhumane Conditions Suit

St. Louis to pay $4M to Settle Jail Inhumane Conditions Suit

Introduction

The city of St. Louis has agreed to a $4 million settlement in a class action lawsuit over inhumane conditions at the now-closed St. Louis Medium Security Institution, commonly known as the Workhouse.

The lawsuit alleged that inmates were subjected to unsanitary and overcrowded conditions, including rodent feces found in their food, infestations of bugs and snakes, and unbearable overcrowding.

The settlement was announced by ArchCity Defenders, a nonprofit organization representing the plaintiffs. The group has filed a motion in federal court seeking approval to notify thousands of former inmates about their potential eligibility to claim damages under the settlement.

Background on the Workhouse Jail and Affected Inmates

The Workhouse jail was closed in June 2022, and demolition began earlier this year. Approximately 16,000 individuals who were incarcerated at the facility for five or more days between November 2012 and its closure may now be eligible to file claims if the court approves the settlement. The city has denied any wrongdoing or legal liability as part of the agreement signed on April 10.

During a recent news conference, the city’s Mayor, who took office five days after the settlement was reached, declined to comment on the deal, saying she was not in office when the settlement was negotiated.

Plaintiffs Describe Harrowing Jail Conditions

All seven original plaintiffs who brought the suit in 2017 are Black, reflecting the fact that most inmates in the jail were Black, despite the city’s population being just over half Black. Most detainees were held awaiting trial because they could not afford bail, primarily for non-violent offenses.

One plaintiff described the jail as “a horrible place,” stating, “They treat dogs at the shelter better than they treated us.” Though the settlement offers financial compensation, he expressed that no amount of money could return the lost time or heal the trauma caused by being separated from family and confined in such conditions.
Another plaintiff echoed this sentiment during the initial lawsuit announcement, saying that animals were treated better than inmates in the jail.

Overcrowding and Unsafe Living Conditions

A plaintiff jailed for eight months on a probation violation recalled unsanitary conditions, including finding mouse feces in the cake served to inmates, which jail staff merely scraped off. He was housed in a dormitory with 69 other men, sharing just one functioning toilet, sink, and shower.
He also described the intense summer heat inside the jail, which reportedly reached 125 degrees Fahrenheit (51.67 degrees Celsius). This extreme heat led to inmate protests, prompting city officials to bring in portable air conditioners temporarily.

ArchCity Defenders on the Settlement’s Significance

The executive director of ArchCity Defenders called the Workhouse “an infamous symbol of injustice and inhumane treatment” and said it represented systemic racism and the targeting of poor people within the criminal justice system.

He emphasized the long-term harm caused by the jail, noting, “So many generations were harmed by it.” He praised the current developments, saying the jail’s closure, demolition, defunding, and now the settlement allowing victims to recover damages marked “a huge accomplishment” in addressing past wrongs.

This settlement marks an important step toward justice for thousands who endured decades of neglect and abuse in the St. Louis Workhouse jail.