Death Of Former Inmate Prompts Push To End Late Night 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 propose legislation to prevent inmates from being released at night, according to the victim’s family and the Young Women’s Freedom Center advocacy group.

Berkley 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.

Since her 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 for an “end the dangerous practice of late night releases.”

Jessica Nowlan, the executive director of the Young Women's Freedom Center, a San Francisco group that advocates for women of color who have grown up in poverty and been incarcerated, said in a statement, “We are excited to announce that Jessica St. Louis’ Senator, Nancy Skinner, has agreed to carry a bill. We have a list of demands that have come from years of organizing with women who have experienced unsafe prison and jail release practices, and are now beginning the process of translating those demands into legislation. Together we will make sure that California leads the way and ends the practice of late night releases.”

Sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Ray Kelly said that St. Louis' death was "an unfortunate situation" but said the jail releases up to 100 people a day around the clock and can't 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.

Skinner, who represents Richmond, Berkeley and Oakland, has not yet been reached for additional comment.

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

Bay City News contributed to this report

Photo courtesy GoFundMe

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