ACLU-EM JAIL REPORT NOW IN THE HANDS OF JUSTICE
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: John Chasnoff, 314-652-3114, extension 26; john@aclu-em.org
ACLU-EM PROBE UNCOVERS MAJOR CIVIL LIBERTIES VIOLATIONS AT ST. LOUIS CITY JUSTICE CENTER, MEDIUM SECURITY INSTITUTION
Corrections officers interviewed in report sent to U.S. Department of Justice
ST. LOUIS, March 24, 2009 – An American Civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri (ACLU-EM) preliminary investigation of civil liberties violations at the St. Louis City Justice Center and the Medium Security Institution in St. Louis has been sent to the United States Justice Department for review.
“We made the decision that the United States Department of Justice should be notified about the allegations contained in our report,” said Brenda Jones, Executive Director for the ACLU-EM. “Correctional officers have described a pattern of beatings, sexual misconduct, and other crimes which need to be verified or refuted. We hope the document will be the catalyst for further investigation.”
In interviews conducted by the ACLU-EM over a two-year period, corrections officers at both facilities testified to rampant misconduct at the two jails. The six interviews served as the genesis of the report - “Suffering in Silence: Human Rights Abuses in St. Louis Correctional Centers.”
Among the findings in the ACLU-EM report:
· Inmate assaults by corrections officers
· Systemic cover ups and false reporting of the incidents
· Sexual harassment and sexual misconduct
· Medical neglect
· Negligence resulting in death
To view a SUMMARY of the report
To view the FULL REPORT
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