CLAYTON — St. Louis County Executive Sam Page on Tuesday named Scott Anders director of the Department of Justice Services.
Anders had served as acting director since Oct. 1, following the retirement of Doug Burris, who had overseen the operations of the county’s troubled jail.
The jail has had four directors in the past three years, following a series of inmate deaths from untreated medical conditions in early 2019.
Anders was hired to the jail in July as deputy director of administration. He is a former chief U.S. Probation officer for the Eastern District of Missouri; he succeeded Burris, who retired from that position in 2018.
Anders was also previously a district administrator for the Missouri Department of Corrections and a president of the Missouri Corrections Association.
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His appointment was applauded Tuesday by some members of the , a six-member citizen panel that advises the jail director.
Chairman Jeff Smith said Anders was “honest, accessible and passionate about the safety and well-being of both staff and detainees.â€â€œThere are many improvements needed to foster the kind of rehabilitative culture that our advisory board and Director Anders aspire to create,†Smith said. “We will continue working with him and his team until we get there.â€
The Rev. Phillip Duvall, a civil rights activist and outspoken board member, said Anders’ appointment was a “good move.â€
Duvall had previously praised Anders as being more proactive than past directors of the jail over the past three years.
“He’s got sound plans, and he’s tackling serious issues more aggressively,†Duvall said.
Since becoming acting director, Anders successfully petitioned the County Council to approve immediate pay raises for 300 frontline jail workers who warned of safety concerns amid record staffing shortages. He also hired a security firm to immediately fill 15 vacancies at the jail.
And he has launched a federal apprenticeship program that offers apprentices free college credit courses and pay bonuses to boost recruitment.
“I’m honored to continue to lead this department and expand the educational and work-training opportunities for our inmate residents,†Anders said in a news release. “Justice Services is dedicated to making a better life for those who pass through our doors and I am equally dedicated to providing a supportive and safe environment for our staff.â€
In a statement, Page credited Anders with advocating for the pay raise at recent County Council meetings and developing reentry programs to reduce jail recidivism while serving as U.S. Chief Probation Officer.
“As the Chief Probation Officer for the Eastern District of Missouri, Scott developed national partnerships to create re-entry programs for inmate residents that he has replicated in his time at the St. Louis County Justice Center,†Dr. Page said. “I’m grateful for Scott’s leadership in successfully advocating for pay raises for corrections officers and am thrilled he’s joining us as permanent director.â€