Death Of Former Inmate Prompts Bill To Ban Night Jail Releases

DUBLIN, CA — The death of a woman who was found unresponsive near a BART station in Dublin last month has prompted a California senator to introduce legislation to prevent inmates from being released late at night or early in the morning, according to the victim's family and the Young Women's Freedom Center advocacy group.

Berkeley resident Jessica St. Louis, 26, was found dead near the passenger pick-up/drop-off area at the station at about 5:30 a.m. on July 28. Authorities said an autopsy showed no signs of homicide or assault and suspect the cause of death to be a drug overdose. Investigators are awaiting toxicology results.

Sgt. Ray Kelly from the Alameda County Sheriff's Department said the woman was released from Santa Rita Jail around 1:30 a.m. and had no signs of injury. She also appeared to walk fine out of the jail.

Senator Nancy Skinner’s "The Getting Home Safe Act" proposes ending late night releases, while facilitating safe transportation home and offering former inmates access to critical services and support. If passed, the bill would require inmates in California to be released from jail "between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. or sundown, whichever is later" and would require the Board of State and Community Corrections to establish the Late-Night Release Prevention Task Force. Skinner represents the cities of Richmond, Berkeley and Oakland.

Since St. Louis' death, activists have rallied at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin and in Oakland, criticizing the Alameda County Sheriff's Office for releasing her from jail overnight and calling to "end the dangerous practice of late night releases."

"The Getting Home Safe Act is an important move in the right direction, and is an accomplishment for women who have been impacted by the system, and who have risen up to demand change," Jessica Nowlan, executive director of Young Women's Freedom Center, said in a statement. "It is the leadership of these women that will prevent another tragedy like the absolutely avoidable death of Jessica St. Louis."

Sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Ray Kelly said that St. Louis' death was "an unfortunate situation" but the jail releases up to 100 people a day around the clock and cannot keep people in custody after they're released.

Alameda County court records indicate that St. Louis, who was in jail for 11 days, was charged with felony grand theft for an offense last Nov. 16 and that she entered a not guilty plea on June 15. Court records also indicate that she was charged with two misdemeanor counts of second-degree burglary and one count each of misdemeanor grand theft and misdemeanor vandalism for offenses last Sept. 29.

According to her family, St. Louis was born in Haiti and moved to the U.S. to live with her father when she was 7 years old after her mother died. She was placed in foster care when she was in seventh grade and her father died when she was in high school. Read the full Getting Home Safe Act here.

A GoFundMe page was established to help the family pay for the funeral, which was held on Aug. 6.

Bay City News contributed to this report
Photo courtesy GoFundMe
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