ST. LOUIS — There are new questions tonight about the leadership at the City Justice Center after 5 On Your Side confirmed that director Jennifer Clemons-Abdullah is on leave.
For months, St. Louis Board of Alderman members Rasheen Aldridge and Cara Spencer have been vocal about the situation at the City Justice Center.
“We’ve been having a lack of transparency with some of the situations that have been going on in the jail,” Ward 14 Alderman Rasheen Aldridge said.
“It’s clear that things aren’t working over there from the staffing issues to the safety of those in our custody, and to the general public just having question that are unanswered,” Ward 8 Alderwoman Cara Spencer said.
However, both Aldridge and Spencer were shocked to find out the director of the jail, Jennifer Clemons-Abdullah, was on leave.
“It was a shock because things have been quiet,” Aldridge said.
“This is just another questionable set of circumstances,” Spencer said. “A lack of transparency, and what has been going on in our jails has been troubling for some time now.”
A city spokesman confirmed Clemons-Abdullah’s leave, but couldn’t comment whether it was medical or administrative.
“If it is a medical leave, I hope that she is OK,” Aldridge said. “If it’s any other leave, outside of that, it would be interesting to see the reasoning and what direction the jail may be heading in.”
Aldridge and Spencer each told 5 on Your Side they believe Mayor Tishaura Jones needs to clarify the situation and how it impacts day to day life at the CJC.
“The staff who are working there are really put in an unfortunate position,” Spencer said. “We don’t have enough staff there and it’s unclear what’s happening next.”
“I think in the long term this could be a start of the turning of a new leaf at the jail," Aldridge said.
A city spokesman for declined comment when asked when Clemons-Abdullah went on leave and if she is expected to return.