Several racial justice organizations claimed this week through a report that the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is not keeping its progressive promises to the community.
Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell said the organizations that released the report “was complimentary of my work,” before he chose to challenge Congresswoman Cori Bush for the 1st Congressional District Democratic nomination.
The 43-page St. Louis County Prosecutor Watch report focused on five areas including transparency, charging decisions, pretrial detention decisions, conviction and sentencing and commitment to alternatives. It also provides recommendations for the office to help improve its legal system.
The justice groups that make up the Prosecutor Organizing Table include ArchCity Defenders, Action St. Louis, Forward Through Ferguson, Freedom Community Center, Missourians to Abolish the Death Penalty, Organization for Black Struggle, and Roderick & Solange MacArthur Justice Center.
The team released the report to hold prosecuting attorney offices in the area accountable for the promises that were made to the community during the prosecutor’s campaign.
“It is just as a general principle for an elected official, the expectation is always to be transparent,” said Mike Milton, founder of Freedom Community Center.
“If we don’t have that information, then there’s no way to know how that office is functioning.”
In a statement to the St. Louis American, Bell said, “As St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney, I have worked with police and community partners to protect people from violence while expanding access to treatment for those who need help. I have made the most of limited resources to build the public’s trust in prosecution by holding police and prosecutors accountable for misconduct and ending the death penalty.”
“The agenda of Prosecutor Watch is to defund the police and prosecutors, yet prior to my run for congress, this group was complimentary of my work and we found common ground around which to collaborate.”
The justice groups that make up the Prosecutor Organizing Table include ArchCity Defenders, Action St. Louis, Forward Through Ferguson, Freedom Community Center, Missourians to Abolish the Death Penalty, Organization for Black Struggle, and Roderick & Solange MacArthur Justice Center.
Bell stated “Many of this group (if not all) have endorsed my opponent for Congress who refuses to debate these issues with me in a public forum as requested by numerous impartial news outlets and community groups.”
The group began collecting data from St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell’s office in August 2022. They presented the office with questions such as whether the office keeps a “Brady List” or an officer exclusion list, whether the office seeks the death penalty, how long are people detained in jail, how frequently the office recommends concurrent sentences vs. consecutive sentences and what efforts Bell’s office has made to develop relationships with social service organizations.
The report also offers responses to the entire list of questions posed to the office. Bell responded to some of the group’s questions, a few were listed as partial responses, and others he did not answer.
Members of the Prosecutor Organizing Table said while collecting data there were periods of time where Bell’s office made it difficult to receive some of the requested information.
William Waller, ArchCity Defenders’ managing attorney for direct representation of criminal and municipal, was able to receive internal database reports by charge type, which he said was helpful to the report. However, there were reports that the office could not run.
“It became clear that sort of a routine assessment of their charging practices was not a priority … it should be something that is freely publicly available,” he said.
In an earlier statement, Bell said he is proud of the work he has done in St. Louis County as a progressive prosecutor and will continue to do more for the community.
“I was the first prosecutor in Missouri to refuse to prosecute abortion cases, I implemented a first-of-its-kind diversion program to help keep nonviolent offenders out of jail and get them on a better path, and I’ve fought to overturn wrongful convictions,” Bell said.
“I respect the work of organizations in the St. Louis community that are committed to criminal justice reform, and agree that there is more work to be done, which is why I’ll work to get progressive results for the St. Louis region in Congress.”
The report finds the county jail population is nearing the same level as it was in 2018, the last year of former county prosecutor Bob McCulloch’s term.
“The last time we checked it was about 3% less,” Milton said. “That points to … possibly prosecutorial discretion around recommendations of bond, how he charges, what he charges and how and what he is doing to reduce the jail population.”
Members acknowledge that they have seen some improvement since Bell assumed the prosecutor’s role. They are grateful for his decision to not seek the death penalty, how he is reducing the amount of child support prosecutions and limiting prosecuting some misdemeanor charges. However, they say more work is needed to reform the courts and its legal system.
The group hopes the prosecutor’s office finds the report useful to help those who are deeply impacted by the county’s legal system and that families see this as not just data points, but to learn more about the prosecutorial system.
Bell said 1st Congressional District “deserve to hear where the candidates stand.”
“My opponent refusing to answer questions and hiding behind this group is disingenuous and does a grave disservice to this community. I am proud to run on my record of doing justice in St. Louis County, and I look forward to continuing to collaborate with all of our community stakeholders.”
The Prosecutor Organizing Table will release a report on the city’s prosecutor’s office this fall.
Alvin A. Reid of the St. Louis American contributed to this report.
Not surprised that Bell doesn’t pass the sniff test. He reminds me of another young Black man who was groomed right here in MO in the 70’s and rose to SCOTUS. He was poor and admired Malcolm X in his youth. He studied law, became EEO Dir. at Monsanto (where we met), served Sen. J. Danforth, became a lobbyist for the powerful CMA or Chemical Manufacturers Association, and was appointed EEO Chair by President Ronald Reagan, (possibly to dismantle it) and was eventually seated on the SCOTUS. I see absolutely no difference in these young two young men from 1978 and 2024. Don’t be fooled again.
You’re referring to Clarence Thomas, I assume. Good catch.
You’re referring to Clarence Thomas, I assume. Good catch.
Bell is no Clarence Thomas.
Talk in about not passing the sniff test. It seems odd that this report comes out a week before the election. If Congresswomen Bush has nothing to hide, then why won’t she debate Prosecuting Attorney Bell. I find it odd that her commercials went from say nothing about her working with President Biden to agreeing with him 90% of the time, after she got called out on her vote against one of the biggest infrastructure bills ever presented to Congress. A bill that would help everyone, especially people of color.
In addition, she was untruthful about how much money she bought to Missouri and got called out on that as well.
Talking about not passing the sniff test. It seems odd that this report comes out a week before the election. If Congresswomen Bush has nothing to hide, then why won’t she debate Prosecuting Attorney Bell. I also find it odd that her commercials went from say nothing about her working with President Biden to agreeing with him 90% of the time, after she got called out on her vote against one of the biggest infrastructure bills ever presented to Congress. A bill that would help everyone, especially people of color.
In addition, she was untruthful about how much money she bought to Missouri and got called out on that as well.
Bell completely sold out St Louis. He owes his entire candidacy to the Republican millionaires of AIPAC.
How can we ever trust him as prosecutor again?
I’d say the timing of this report is quite appropriate.
You’re referring to Clarence Thomas, I assume. Good catch.
Racial Equity in St. Louis: The Need for Genuine Change
As we reflect on the past decade in St. Louis, it is evident that our region has faced significant challenges in rebuilding and growing since the tragic death of Michael Brown. Numerous racial equity organizations have emerged, expanding in size and influence, ostensibly to address the systemic issues plaguing our communities. However, despite these efforts, the impact on the ground has been minimal, and the promise of racial equity remains largely unfulfilled.
These organizations and their allies have worked tirelessly to make St. Louis a more equitable place, but there is a concerning trend that cannot be ignored. While the black middle class has become more visible, occupying executive positions that were previously out of reach, the real change that our communities need has yet to materialize. Reports at both the local and national levels indicate that African Americans in St. Louis still lack the networks and access necessary to co create the transformative change our communities desperately require.
In recent months, we’ve seen corporations and other entities retreat from their commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion. This shift, while disheartening, highlights a deeper issue: the performative nature of many racial equity efforts. These initiatives often amount to little more than rhetoric, with organizations professing their commitment to equity while simultaneously working with those who perpetuate the very systems of oppression they claim to fight.
The truth is, racial equity cannot be achieved through charity alone. Real change requires comprehensive development programs that deliver tangible returns on investment for both community organizations and investors. Yet, the current approach has left many disillusioned, as those in positions of power continue to marginalize the very communities they purport to serve.
One glaring example of this disconnect is the ongoing criticism of Wesley Bell. As a leader who has consistently worked to implement criminal justice reforms and educational programs that address the root causes of inequality, Bell has faced undue scrutiny. His office has been recognized nationally for its efforts, yet locally, he is attacked by those who fail to recognize the significance of his work.
It is particularly troubling that many of the very organizations and individuals who claim to champion racial equity are the same ones who exclude the most disenfranchised members of our community from the conversation. Instead of engaging with those living in poverty or affected by systemic oppression, they confine themselves to safe spaces, where the black middle class and their allies feel comfortable, leaving the most vulnerable behind.
We must ask ourselves: what has truly changed in St. Louis? Where are the results that we can see, touch, and feel? The creation of more low income housing, for example, does little to address the underlying issues when it simply replicates past mistakes, concentrating poverty rather than dispersing it.
As we look to the future, it is imperative that we give Wesley Bell a chance to continue his work in Congress. We must also hold all our elected officials accountable, ensuring that they work in partnership with our communities to create the schools, housing, and opportunities we need. Let us not be swayed by the same old policies rebranded under the guise of racial equity. Instead, let us rebuild with integrity and a genuine commitment to change.
In closing, I echo the words of the late Whitney Houston: “The children are our future.” It is our responsibility to create a future in which they can lead, not one that perpetuates the disparities of the past. Let’s give Bell, and others dedicated to true equity, the support they need to make a real difference in St. Louis.