Press Releases & Statements

 
 
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Close the Workhouse Campaign Statement on The Bail Project’s Recent Announcement of Their St. Louis Office Closure

Saint Louis, Missouri - October 19, 2021 - The Bail Project recently announced the closing of their St. Louis City Office. For the past three years, The Bail Project St. Louis has been an amazing partner in the campaign to Close the Workhouse. Over the course of the campaign, The Bail Project St. Louis bailed out over 3,000 people, and gave people the tools to fight their case by sending folks court date reminders, offering them transportation, and even providing childcare. This is how you re-envision public safety. 

 

Statement from Close the Workhouse Campaign on 140 People Transferred to the Workhouse

Saint Louis, Missouri - August 4, 2021 - Following a reported disturbance on July 31st, 140 people were transferred from the City Justice Center (CJC) to the Workhouse. While we applauded the Jones administration taking the important step of emptying the Workhouse earlier this summer, we also made it clear that empty is not closed.

 

Close the Workhouse Campaign Responds to Emptying of Workhouse  

Saint Louis, Missouri - July 17, 2021 - For the first time in its history, there are no detainees being held in the Workhouse. We have organized to close this hellish jail for over 3 years, and we are relieved that people who have been accused of crimes will no longer be housed in a facility known for caging poor, Black people pre-trial in inhumane conditions. 

 

Close the Workhouse Statement Following News that the Inhumane Jail Will Be Defunded

Saint Louis, Missouri - April 21, 2021 - After three years of organizing and mobilizing numerous people across St. Louis City, the Close the Workhouse campaign calls today’s news “a win.”

 

Close the Workhouse Campaign Statement on City Jail Protests and Transfers

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI - January 2, 2021 - The Close the Workhouse campaign stands with those detained inside the St. Louis City Justice Center (CJC) and Medium Security Institution (the Workhouse), and their concerned loved ones, in calling for transparency and accountability surrounding the recent transfer of detainees from CJC to the Workhouse. 

 

Close the Workhouse Campaign Calls on Lyda Krewson, Lewis Reed, and the Board of Aldermen to Make Good on Their Promise

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI - November 20, 2020 - On July 17, the 28-0 unanimous vote by the Board of Aldermen (BoA) and the subsequent signing of Ordinance 71217 by Mayor Lyda Krewson was a historic moment. This was a moment when the people of St Louis, a coalition of people across race and class, joined together to demand the closure of a hellhole jail that has terrorized generations of Black and Brown people. This was a demand that our elected officials re-envision what public safety looks like and invest in our communities. 

 

Close the Workhouse Campaign Statement on the Shameful Public Safety Committee Meeting and Review of the Commissioner’s Reports 

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI - October 2, 2020 - Yesterday, the Public Safety Committee of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen convened for the first time since this summer to discuss the status of the Medium Security Institution (MSI), more commonly known as the Workhouse. Less than three months ago, the Board of Aldermen, spurred on by thousands of St. Louisans, came together to unanimously pass Ordinance 71217, directing the closure of the Workhouse by the end of 2020. It was a moment of unity and a high point for our City.

In yesterday’s committee meeting, some City officials threatened to roll back that progress.

 

After Two Years, Close the Workhouse Campaign is Victorious as St. Louis City Government Votes to Shutter Notorious ‘Workhouse’ Jail in 2020

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI - July 17th, 2020 - As a result of the Close the Workhouse campaign’s organizing and advocacy, today, St. Louis City’s Board of Aldermen voted unanimously to permanently shutter the City’s Medium Security Institution, commonly known as the Workhouse. Stemming from the City’s racist and predatory policing and unlawful cash bail system, the Workhouse has disproportionately caged Black people who are legally presumed innocent but could not afford to make a monetary payment to buy their freedom. People would languish an average of 290 days before trial, surrounded by black mold, mice, rats, bugs, inoperable plumbing, and without adequate access to medical care.

 

Close the Workhouse Statement Addresses Falsehoods from STL Board of Alderman Meeting, Urges Permanent Closure of the Jail 

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI - June 26th, 2020 - After two and a half years of intense organizing and advocacy, today the work of the Close the Workhouse campaign reached a new height with the introduction of an amendment in the St. Louis Board of Alderman to remove funding from the Workhouse in the Fiscal Year 2021 budget and close the jail.

 

As St. Louis City Finalizes the Budget, Population in Workhouse Jail Drops to Record Low, and Majority of St. Louis Board of Aldermen Support Permanently Closing the Workhouse 

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI - June 16th, 2020 - In a historic moment, St. Louis City has a clear path to permanently shutter its Medium Security Institution, commonly known as the Workhouse.

Close the Workhouse Campaign Launches Detailed Plan to Shutter St. Louis City’s Hellish Jail and Receives Growing Support from Public Officials, including New Resolution at the Board of Aldermen

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI - January 14, 2020 - At a press conference in City Hall, members of the Close the Workhouse (CtW) campaign shared details of a new report outlining a plan to permanently shutter the City’s Medium Security Institution, commonly known as the Workhouse.

A Month Following the Death of Christopher Brown in the Workhouse, Family Releases Statement

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI - September 17, 2019 - In a statement released today, the family of the late Christopher Brown calls on the City of St. Louis to permanently Close the Workhouse and re-imagine public safety.

CLOSE THE WORKHOUSE CAMPAIGN RELEASES PLAN TO PERMANENTLY CLOSE THE CITY’S INFAMOUS MEDIUM SECURITY JAIL

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI – SEPTEMBER 13, 2018 - Today a report titled “CLOSE THE WORKHOUSE: A PLAN TO CLOSE THE WORKHOUSE & PROMOTE A NEW VISION FOR ST. LOUIS” by the campaign also called “Close the Workhouse”. Led by survivors of the infamous St. Louis City Medium Security jail launched the campaign in the spring of 2018.

Following the Sudden Death of Louis “Lynn” Payton at the Workhouse, Family Members Raise Questions and Urge Workhouse to Close at Press Conference

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI - AUGUST 8, 2018 - At a press conference, family members of the late Louis “Lynn” Payton raised questions about Louis’s unexpected death in the Workhouse, shared their concerns about the City’s lack of transparency, and called for the permanent closure of the Workhouse.

ADVISORY: Following the Sudden Death of Louis “Lynn” Payton at the Workhouse, Family Members Raise Questions and Urge Workhouse to Close at Press Conference

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI 

On Wednesday, August 8, 2018 at Apostles Church (4515 Evans), family members of the late Louis Payton will raise questions and concerns about his unexpected death and advocate for the permanent closure of the Workhouse. Despite multiple attempts to contact City officials within the Public Safety Department, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, and the Medium Security Institution, the family lacks answers to several critical questions pertaining to Mr. Payton’s death.

 

July 4th Rally and Launch of the "Close The Workhouse" Campaign

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI - JULY 4, 2018 -  Survivors of St. Louis City’s Medium Security Institution, “the Workhouse,” and their allies commemorate the 4th of July by launching a new campaign to Close the Workhouse. On a day that celebrates justice, freedom, and liberty, hundreds rallied to demand that the city permanently shut down the notoriously hellish Workhouse, reduce the number of people in St. Louis jails, and redirect jail spending to support services in the city’s impacted communities.

 

For Media Inquiries, Contact:

Z Gorley, Communications Director, ArchCity Defenders

closetheworkhouse@gmail.com, zgorley@archcitydefenders.org