~ In a move to improve the conditions and operations at the City Justice Center, Mayor Tishaura O. Jones has announced the hiring of Doug Burris as the provisional commissioner of corrections. Burris, a nationally recognized expert in corrections, brings with him decades of experience in decreasing recidivism rates and improving public trust in the criminal justice system.

According to Mayor Jones, Burris was chosen for his impressive track record of achieving these goals during his tenure as director of justice services for St. Louis County. During his three years in this role, there were no inmate deaths at the St. Louis County Jail and it received the highest accreditation scores of any jail in the country.

"Even though the City Justice Center has made some improvements during my time as mayor, we still have a long way to go," said Mayor Jones. "We need our jail to be safer, better equipped to reduce recidivism rates, and gain community trust. Doug's experience and professional insight will be invaluable in helping us achieve these goals."

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Burris was initially contracted by the City in December as a consultant to review conditions at the CJC and make recommendations for improvements. The result of this contract was an Operational Review of the St. Louis Justice Center, which included specific recommendations for changes to be made at the facility.

"I am grateful for the assistance I received from community leaders and officials while conducting this operational review," said Burris. "Moving forward, I will continue to work closely with them to ensure that our Corrections Division operates with transparency and makes changes based on our shared goals of safety, treating all individuals with humanity, and producing positive outcomes."

Public Safety Director Charles Coyle also expressed his support for Burris' provisional hiring, stating that it will not only help sustain current improvements but also reinforce metrics that will lead to further progress in the future.

During a press conference on Monday, Mayor Jones directed Burris to implement several recommendations from his Operational Review within the first 60 days of his tenure. A full list of these recommendations will be made available on Monday morning.

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In addition to his work in St. Louis County, Burris has also served as the chief United States probation officer for the Eastern District of Missouri for 18 years. Under his leadership, the district became nationally recognized for its successful implementation of recidivism reduction strategies.

Burris' expertise has also been sought after on a national level, as he has served as a member of the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government Executive Session on Community Corrections and has been invited to the White House on eight occasions to assist in shaping policy. He was also an expert witness at a U.S. Senate hearing on evolving the criminal justice system and has recently worked as a consultant for REFORM Alliance.

The Department of Health is also looking forward to working with Interim Commissioner Burris to continually assess and improve conditions and services provided at the CJC, according to Dr. Mati Hslatshwayo Davis, Director of Health.

While Burris serves as interim commissioner, the City of St. Louis will continue its national search for a permanent commissioner. With Burris' impressive credentials and proven track record, it is clear that he is well-equipped to lead the City Justice Center towards positive change and improved outcomes for all involved.

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