ST. LOUIS – Reverends Phillip Duvall and Leanord C. White say they’re being denied visits by the St. Louis County Juvenile Detention Center.
White said, “I’ve come down at least three times where I was denied.”
Duvall added, “The government shouldn’t be an extension to blocking that when it is our constitutional right.”
Also crucial, they say, for a young detainee to get back on track.
“Our conversations seemingly have helped him,” White said. “He does miss me when I don’t come, and then he’s looking for me to come and I don’t show up, and now he doesn’t know it’s not me not coming—I can’t get to him!”
The juvenile’s mother was also there.
“I have family members and friends who want to come and support my son, and they’ve been turned away. There were several emails sent down to the head person. No response,” she said.
Similar complaints arose about a year ago, and the St. Louis County Council held special meetings to attempt getting to the bottom of it in September 2023.
In the end, the county council had limited power because the detention center is run by the state and the meetings were closed to the public to protect the confidentiality of juveniles. Complaints about visits, though, seemed to quiet down—until now.
“I called two hours before—and nobody—not just on the detention side, but even on the administration side—could give me a name or a number to contact just to resolve something that would have taken five minutes,” Duvall said.
The St. Louis County Courts responded to FOX 2, “It is the policy of the St. Louis County Juvenile Detention Facility that no one is allowed to visit a juvenile in the detention facility without the guardian’s consent. Due to safety and confidentiality issues, the juvenile’s guardian must place that person’s name on an approved list for visitation.”
White countered, “I’m on the list. The mother put me on the list.”
“I just feel like he needs all the support that he can get. That really means something to a person when you can get all the support you can get,” the juvenile’s mom added.
Visitation was still unresolved at last check, as the ministers continue fighting for access, which they believe is key to turning around the lives of young detainees.
