By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | The New Orleans City Council voted unanimously this afternoon in support of an ordinance granting permission for Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman to build a 1,438-bed jail. Gusman will have to demolish most of his other jail facilities as soon as possible once the new facility is […]
Author Archives: Matt Davis
Posted inCriminal Justice, Investigations
Jail construction manager lacked license, gave money
Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman overruled his chief deputy three years ago to award a $23 million construction-management contract for his new jail complex to a company the deputy rated lower.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Jail advisory ripped by sheriff is scheduled to meet with him this afternoon at City Hall
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer The committee established by Mayor Mitch Landrieu to advise him on issues regarding the city’s jail complex meets today at 2, less than a day after Sheriff Marlin Gusman blasted the group’s work in a letter to the City Council. The Council is to consider Thursday a long-tabled […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
Mayor's group made jail recommendation based on bad property info from Sheriff
Marlin Gusman appears to have misled the public about the ownership of a key property that is part of his planned jail complex.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Broken Records: After 6 months, we're still waiting for detailed Sheriff's Office budget
This item is one in an occasional series called “Broken Records” detailing government’s inability to comply with the state’s Public Records Act. By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer The Lens first sought a copy of Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman’s entire budget for 2009, down to the general ledger level, in a public records […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Jail advisers to put off key decision until April
Having not met for almost two months, Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s Criminal Justice Working Group will now need at least three more months before making a final recommendation on the total capacity of a new city jail.
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
Gusman relied on experience in pushing case for bigger jail
Sheriff Marlin Gusman has no hard evidence to back his recent claim that New Orleans needs a jail that would hold 3,200 people, even after an expert hired by the city said a 1,500-bed jail would be sufficient.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Gusman wants more jail beds; ACLU wants to know why
The American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana wants Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman to justify his recent claim that a new city jail needs 3,200 beds, after a consultant hired by the city said city could easily make do with a 1,500-bed jail.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Judges, clerk apologize for Civil District Court computer system crash
The City Council this morning called for changes in the management of the computer system at Civil District Court, following the disastrous computer crash that has crippled the city’s real-estate market since late October.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Trash fee increase among highlights on council agenda
The City Council plans to vote tomorrow on an ordinance to double residential garbage pick-up fees to $24, even though Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s administration still has not even started drafting new contracts with two companies to actually haul the city’s trash.