By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman expects to increase the number of inmates in his jail from 3,100 to 3,400 next year, he said during a public hearing Friday. Gusman confirmed the expected increase even as an advisory group assembled by Mayor Mitch Landrieu is working to set […]
Author Archives: Matt Davis
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics, Investigations
Deputies working private, off-duty details pay into fund used by sheriff for questionable discretionary spending
A lucrative private-security program staffed by deputies provides Sheriff Marlin Gusman with about $100,000 in discretionary money that he uses for questionable expenditures.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Sheriff's Office special taxing district to hold hearing on 2012 budget; little info available
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | A little-scrutinized but powerful government body run by Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman is holding a public hearing on its budget on Friday, though scant information on the budget has been made available. The organization is the taxpayer financed Orleans Parish Law Enforcement District. By law, the […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
Coalition urges mayor to 'man up' and fulfill promises on jail size and budget reforms
Jail reform coalition member Norris Henderson hands a 2,200-signature petition to Councilwoman Susan Guidry’s chief of staff, Deborah Langhoff, at City Hall this afternoon. Photo by Matt Davis. By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | A reform coalition, calling for a smaller, more accountably budgeted jail, dropped off two copies of a 2,200-signature petition […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Sheriff's deputy arrested after telling investigators he smuggled phones into jail
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | An Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office deputy was arrested this weekend and charged with three counts each of possession of contraband and malfeasance in office after admitting that he brought cell phones into the jail for use by prisoners on three separate occasions. The deputy’s arrest comes after […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
City won't disclose employee addresses, claiming its records are too scattered
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | The City of New Orleans has declined to release the addresses of its employees, saying it has not kept track of whether or not employees want their information kept private. The Lens sought the addresses as part of a public-records request for city payroll information filed on […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
After more than six months, deputies finally get paid for security work at city auto pound
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | Sheriff Marlin Gusman finally paid some of the thousands of dollars he owed to reserve deputies who have been working a security detail at the city’s auto impound lot since May. The sheriff is staffing these security spots through a contract with the city. But the city […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Council says it can't reveal proposed budget despite open-government group's request
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | The City Council declined today for the second year in a row to give the public an early look at its proposed budget so that citizens can digest it before the council votes to adopt it Dec. 1. Council members said they have been disappointed by the […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Weeks after saying the checks were coming, Gusman still hasn't paid deputies for work
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | A month after saying he would do it, Sheriff Marlin Gusman has not paid thousands of dollars to reserve deputies who have been working a security detail at the city’s auto impound lot since May. “I feel like he lied to us,” said a deputy who originally […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Sheriff borrows another $5 million for jail
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman held a six-minute meeting of a little-scrutinized agency he controls this afternoon to issue $5 million of taxpayer-financed bonds to help build his new jail. Gusman still has the ability to issue as much as $30 million more in bonds, permission voters […]