It’s been a year since Nate Hayward was appointed commissioner of corrections at the St. Louis City Justice Center, and during that time he said strides have been made to improve jail culture, increase staffing and improve safety protocols at the facility.
Hayward took over as commissioner on Sept. 16, 2025, bringing 32 years of corrections experience from the St. Louis County Justice Center. Before his arrival, the jail had been riddled with issues that include people dying in custody, reports about excessive force, riots and allegations of medical neglect.
In a joint interview with St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer and Public Safety Director Shawn Dace at City Hall on Monday, Hayward said making changes at the jail has not been easy…