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Illustration of the St. Louis skyline across the river, with foliage in the foreground. Simiya Sudduth

The Marshall Project — St. Louis

Exposing abuses in the criminal justice system in St. Louis and Missouri through investigative, data and community engagement journalism.

St. Louis
An Overlooked Source of Information in Missouri Prison Deaths: The Coroner
When corrections officials aren’t forthcoming with records, coroners can offer families the details needed to find closure or pursue accountability.
An illustration shows a floating white cloth in front of a teal background. A person in an orange outfit exits from within the white cloth, pushing the fabric to the side like a curtain.
St. Louis November 18
How We Got Comprehensive Death Data From the Missouri DOC
After repeated questions about missing deaths in the state’s existing logs, the department shared annual counts for the first time.
By
An illustration shows a person in an orange prison uniform falling into a tall stack of teal colored papers. Several stacks of teal colored papers with headshots on them are in the background.
St. Louis November 18
There Was No Way to Know How Many People Died in Missouri Prisons — Until Now
For years, the state’s Department of Corrections cobbled together death records from multiple sources. New data reveals annual totals for the first time.
By
An illustration shows a transparent silhouette of a person sitting down, surrounded by outlines of faces and smaller drawings of people sitting down.
St. Louis October 30
‘Lost’ in Missouri Jail Cells
A backlog of defendants deemed mentally unfit for trial persists despite public policy changes to address the crisis.
By
Una mujer Blanca con una camisa negra sonríe para una fotografía mientras abraza a su padre, que viste un uniforme de prisión blanco.
Español October 25
Sus Padres Estuvieron En El Corredor De La Muerte En Missouri. Así Enfrentaron La Despedida, La Ejecución y El Duelo.
Los hijos de Lance Shockley, Marcellus “Khaliifah” Williams Sr. y Kevin Johnson hablan de realidades que a menudo no son tomadas en cuenta.
By
A photo of Shamari Jackson, a Black woman wearing a suit, standing outside of a building with glass windows. In the building space are paintings of homicide victims.
Life Inside October 17
The ‘Last Responder’: What Being a Mortician to Homicide Victims Taught Me About Grief
St. Louis native Shamari Jackson began studying mortuary science after her boyfriend was fatally shot. Now she uses her work as a form of therapy.
By Shamari Jackson as told to
A White woman in a black shirt smiles for a picture as she hugs her father, who is wearing a white prison uniform.
St. Louis October 15
Their Dads Were on Death Row in Missouri. Here’s How They Faced Goodbyes, Executions and Grief.
The children of Lance Shockley, Marcellus “Khaliifah” Williams Sr. and Kevin Johnson shed light on oft-forgotten experiences.
By
A collage illustration with muted green and orange tones shows details of black mold on a bathroom floor, a closeup of a cockroach, a broken toilet bowl, trash, a closeup of a person covering their nose and mouth, a closeup of a person clenching their fist, and the obscured figure of a man.
Analysis October 9
No Showers, Black Mold and Clogged Toilets: America’s Jails Are Disgusting
Understaffing, outdated facilities and poor management have led to filthy conditions in jails in St. Louis, Cleveland and Hinds County, Mississippi.
By , and
A blue, black and white collage shows images of police officers, silhouettes, two hands handcuffed, a logo of the Missouri Department of Public Safety, a map, a brick wall and clippings of a court case.
St. Louis September 18
How Missouri Has Let Police Officers Stay Licensed After Serious Misconduct
Missouri’s system often takes years to resolve a misconduct allegation, in some cases allowing officers to move on to a new department.
By
An illustration shows a tan-skinned person, wearing a purple sweater and gray pants, talking to a Black person across from them who is wearing glasses, a green sweater and black pants. A speech bubble with a scribble inside points from the Black person. In the background, there is a lamp, a bookshelf, a hanging frame and a plant. A title is placed on top of the illustration that reads, "Grieving after a homicide? Families who've been there share what helped."
Feature September 17
An Illustrated Resource Guide for Families of Homicide Victims in St. Louis
The Marshall Project compiled guidance on grieving, working with law enforcement and more from those who have lost someone to violence.
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