A zoo, inconsistent recreation times and shower situations, unorganized. That's how detainees describe the conditions at the jail just months ago. Now that Doug Burris has taken over? They're painting a different picture.
Doug Burris has been running the St. Louis City Justice Center as Interim Commission for just over a month now. However while his tenure has been short, the impact is already being felt.
"Since he's been here, there's been a lot of changes," says Kelvin "Uncle," Shermon who's been at the jail since August.
So what's different? Recreation time has more than doubled.
The jail used to allow only one hour of recreation time. With Burris in charge, detainees say they get around triple recreation time. This allows the detainees to not feel forced to choose between taking a shower, calling a loved one or recreation time.
"Get outside and get on a phone, or play chess, or cards or find a book."
A swift increase in staffing is another change. Burris says the amount of correctional officers has increased by 15-20% since he took over. The detainees see it too.
"More COs, getting hired to actually govern these floors. We had a shortage of COs for a little minute."
And maybe most of all, the introduction of new programs. SLATE has returned to the City Justice Center with their Prison to Prosperity Project for the first time in half a decade, to help the detainees find work opportunities when they get outside.
Obtaining a security license, finding work cleaning or in a kitchen is how some of the detainees said they were being helped by SLATE
All this amounts to what the detainees say they need.
"Everyone hasn't given up on me yet," says detainee Edward Shelton adding "there's still some good people out here." Asked if the biggest thing they need is hope. "Yes... yes sir."
Interim Commissioner Doug Burris has seen this also, describing letters he receives from detainees sharing their newfound hope.
Burris's overhaul of the jail has been swift, striking a stark contrast from the conditions the detainees described under former commissioner Jennifer Clemons-Abdullah. Asked why these programs weren't implemented sooner, Burris wouldn't point fingers.
"I really can't explain what happened previously but I know we have a passionate staff that are working really hard to make sure these people have an opportunity when these get out and making sure they don't come back."
In particular, Ross chose to praise Deputy Commissioner Tammy Ross.
"I have been in jails and prisons in probably 38 states and Puerto Rico even. Ms. Ross is one of the three best correctional staff members I have ever seen in my entire life and we are blessed to have her."
The praise also comes from the detainees.
"This new commissioner and Deputy Commissioner Ms. Ross, they help shape this place up. They [wouldn't] listen to Ms. Ross, trying to push her ideas through. Once Burris got here, he would listen to her and he started pushing everything through."
Other changes include more processes, such as when a fire is started. KMOX can independently confirm a fire started March 10th at the jail resulted in a response from the Fire Department.
"I have to get the word out here that if you do things like this you're going to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law and it's not going to be tolerated."
Burris isn't stopping here however. He says they have more programs they are working on implementing.
"We teamed with the veteran administration to assist those who have served in the armed services. We have a GED program that we're expanding. We have a program called Unlocked Labs it'll be starting within two weeks. It's a computer program that teaches people computer skills."
Nothing might better showcase the hope these detainees have then the computer skills program Burris mentioned, which he says was founded by a former detainee of the City Justice Center.