ST. LOUIS — A second member of the civilian oversight board tasked with monitoring abuse at the St. Louis City Justice Center has resigned.
Mike Milton resigned from the St. Louis Detention Facilities Oversight Board in a letter dated Dec. 13, the same day the board's vice chair Janis Mensah said in a terse resignation letter that current jail head Jennifer Clemons-Abdullah should be fired and St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones "should be ashamed."
Milton stated in his letter that the board has faced "constant obstruction" and has been denied access to data, jail tours and staff and inmate complaints.
"Meanwhile people continue to die at rates that should be alarming to the world, and the city's response is additional board training," Milton's letter stated. "It's clear to me now, the board was never designed to change the systemic violence in the jail, it was designed to give the illusion of progress while maintaining the status quo."
The jail has faced mounting criticisms from advocates calling for increased oversight, citing inhumane conditions, multiple inmate deaths, riots, cell doors that didn't lock and assaults on guards over the past two years.
In July, a class action lawsuit was filed on behalf of at least four detainees, alleging inhumane treatment at the jail. Missouri State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick in October launched an investigation into the jail following allegations of mismanagement, lack of medical care, inadequate nutrition due to nonpayment of food vendors and failure to respond to civilian oversight efforts.
"I’m stepping down from this idle and ineffective board, but I will never stop fighting against in justice and for our freedom," Milton said.
Since 2020, 14 inmates have died at the jail.
