St. Louis City Medium Security Institution - CLOSED

St. Louis Medium was located at 7600 N Hall St, St. Louis MO, and is now permanently closed. You can search for nearby facilities here.

The Medium Security Institution (MSI), commonly known as "The Workhouse," was a medium-security penitentiary located at 7600 Hall Street in St. Louis, Missouri. Built in 1966, it was owned by the City of St. Louis and operated by the Division of Corrections. The facility had a capacity of 1,138 inmates and primarily housed individuals convicted of medium-level offenses. Over the years, MSI faced significant controversy due to allegations of poor living conditions, including inadequate ventilation, insufficient food, and forced labor. These issues led to numerous protests and lawsuits, with activists calling for the facility's closure. In response to these concerns, St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones proposed closing the Workhouse on her first day in office in April 2021. Subsequently, on June 17, 2021, the jail was closed, and its inmates were transferred to the City Justice Center.

The closure marked a significant shift in the city's approach to corrections, addressing long-standing human rights concerns associated with the facility. As of September 2024, plans have been announced to demolish the Workhouse on December 16, 2024, further solidifying the city's commitment to reforming its correctional system.