ST. LOUIS — There are explosive new allegations coming out of the juvenile detention center in St. Louis County. There are complaints of mismanagement, sexual abuse, and incidents leaving workers and detainees hurt. Now, a county councilman is ringing the alarm.
Right now, they are just allegations, but Councilman Ernie Trakas says if we’re going to get to the bottom of this, then someone has to look into it and who better than the state of Missouri?
"I'm hoping the attorney general will accept my request,” Trakas said speaking before the St. Louis County Council Tuesday night.
His comment came a day after he penned a letter to Attorney General Andrew Bailey, saying "As you may know, the St. Louis County Council has recently received allegations of severe abuse of minor residents of the center ... it has been alleged residents are restricted to their individual rooms for extensive periods of time without access to restrooms, showers, and contact with others."
Local advocates say that's not all.
"Injuries from the juveniles to the workers themselves,” Rev. Phil Duvall, who is in touch with jail workers, detainees, and their families, said.
"More than one [correctional officer] was hurt very badly in the justice center, that was unacceptable. I’m here to tell you they've been getting hurt in the justice center and no one is saying anything about these injuries," he said.
He said one of the correctional officers is a veteran who "has not sustained injuries from war but who has sustained injuries from being inside the detention center and if that's what happens to an employee, heaven helps what happens to those children."
Trakas said he's learning that some of the teen detainees are using the restroom in their jail cells and of allegations some staffers are sexually abusing the youth in their custody.
A county spokesman said the health department is looking into conditions at the jail to make sure they are safe and proper. The spokesman also said the county has limited ability to respond since the state runs the facility.
"If the things that we have heard are only partially true, it still is unacceptable,” Councilman Dennis Hancock said.
Trakas's letter reads:
Dear Attorney General Bailey:
I write to request that your office open an investigation into the management and operation of the St. Louis County Juvenile Detention Center (the "Center").
As you may know, the St. Louis County Council has recently received allegations of severe abuse of minor residents of the Center. Specifically, it has been alleged that residents are restricted to their individual rooms for extensive periods of time without access to restrooms, showers, and contact with others. When residents follow procedure and electronically request access to restrooms, showers, etc. Center personnel ignore and/or are unable to respond and accommodate the requests. This has resulted in residents having to urinate and defecate in their rooms. In addition, I have received information that Center personnel are sexually abusing residents. I have also received information that Center management has created a toxic work environment, which has led to inadequate staffing. If the foregoing allegations are true, the Center is in violation of the Missouri Supreme Court's Order and Rule 129 governing the administration of Juvenile Detention Centers in Missouri.
At my request, the Council conducted a hearing in an attempt to look into the alleged misconduct on September 26, 2023. Unfortunately, the Council Chair restricted inquiry to budget related issues, which effectively prevented any realistic, effective inquiry.
The Center operates under the auspices and authority of the 21st Judicial Circuit. This means any substantive investigation of the allegations must be undertaken by the State of Missouri. Accordingly, I am formally requesting that your office open an investigation into the operations of the St. Louis County Juvenile Detention Center.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Ernest G. Trakas