Showers at St. Louis County Jail Riddled with Mold, Report Finds
In September 2025, inspectors from the American Correctional Association (ACA) visited the Buzz Westfall Justice Center in Clayton for an audit. In compiling their 92-page report, three inspectors toured the jail—which locks up an average of 1,340 people (108 more than its stated capacity)—and interviewed guards and detainees.
Their report, as St. Louis Public Radio detailed, revealed a building that was deeply compromised, with “black mold in showers; dirty hallways, elevators and microwaves; leaking and nonworking kitchen sinks; inoperable eye wash stations, and dirty cells and dayrooms.” The inspectors also found a “6-foot piece of metal on the kitchen dishwasher obstructing the flow of dish liquid and sanitizer into the dishwasher.” The metal apparently fell from the ceiling and, when asked, staff did not know how long it had been there.
A lack of food safety was another issue highlighted in the report. Prep tables were not clean, food temperatures were not being kept within acceptable ranges, and raw vegetables were found in open plastic bags and uncovered boxes in coolers and freezers. Worse still, detainees were being given meals on dirty trays, showers had no hot water, and some ceilings were leaking.
Despite these severe failings, St. Louis County refused to allocate funding that could be used to improve conditions. In fact, the jail received a $300,000 cut from its budget in the previous year, meaning that it will likely not have the money to hire staff, provide more training, or conduct maintenance. It would appear the county is content with allowing the jail to continue to degrade.
Source: St. Louis Public Radio
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