March 17, ST. LOUIS, MO — Tomorrow, on the one-year anniversary of the demolition of the Workhouse, ArchCity Defenders will premiere a new documentary examining the history and impact of the city’s former Medium Security Institution, commonly known as the Workhouse.
The documentary, Hell on Hall Street, offers a deep dive into the origins of the Workhouse, the conditions inside the jail, its impact on incarcerated people and the broader St. Louis community, and the grassroots movement that ultimately led to its closure and demolition.
Presented by ArchCity Defenders with support from Action St. Louis and the Close the Workhouse campaign, the premiere is sponsored by Ben & Jerry’s and hosted by the St. Louis Public Library.
The documentary features never-before-seen viewpoints from people who were incarcerated in the Workhouse and an insider look at the movement to get the jail defunded and demolished.
The premiere is free and open to the public and media; though registration is required. The event is currently at capacity, and individuals interested in attending are encouraged to join the waitlist.
Following the screening, a panel discussion will feature individuals who appear in the film and members of the campaign to close the Workhouse. The panel will include a brief audience Q&A.
In February, a federal court issued preliminary approval of a $4 million class action settlement impacting people detained in the Workhouse between 2012 and 2022. Information about the settlement is online and will be available at the event.
A report outlining recommendations for the future of the Workhouse site can be found here.
Members of the public can register for the waitlist here.
Details of the premiere are below.
WHAT: Hell on Hall Street Documentary Premiere and Panel Discussion
WHO: ArchCity Defenders, Close the Workhouse Campaign, and Action St. Louis
WHEN: Wednesday, March 18, 2026 | 5:00–8:00 p.m. | Film begins at 6:00 p.m.
WHERE: St. Louis Public Library – Central Library Branch, 1301 Olive St., St. Louis, MO
MEDIA RSVP: Members of the media should RSVP to Z Gorley at zgorley@archcitydefenders.org and to Chris Nuelle, Senior Strategic Communications Manager, HLK Agency, cnuelle@hlkagency.com