Matt Davis

A new temporary jail built by Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman shows he is not serious about providing inmates with their constitutional right to private visits with their attorneys, according to a request for an injunction filed this morning. The Orleans Parish Public Defender’s Office filed the request in Civil District Court, alleging that Gusman is lagging in his response to an original lawsuit on the issue filed in October.

By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer |

Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman appears ready to release millions of dollars he has been withholding for city building projects from a powerful agency he controls. Gusman held a meeting of the Orleans Parish Law Enforcement District this afternoon, which effectively works as Gusman’s piggy bank for construction projects such as his planned new jail, as well as renovations to city-owned criminal-justice buildings.

By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer |

A pair of December incidents at the Orleans Parish Prison draw continued attention to security risks faced by inmates and staff at the facility. In the first incident, an inmate suffered 14 stab wounds.

Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman has been ignoring a series of public records requests filed with his office by The Lens. Under the state Public Records Act, Gusman is required to turn over the public records immediately, or within three days if they are in active use.