Court hearings will be held virtually due to ‘temporary’ reassignment.
Author Archives: Nick Chrastil
Nicholas Chrastil covers criminal justice for The Lens. As a freelancer, his work has appeared in Slate, Undark, Mother Jones, and the Atavist, among other outlets. Chrastil has a master's degree in mass communication from Louisiana State University, where his research focused on New Orleans' newspapers during the Reconstruction era. During his time at LSU, he also covered the Louisiana state legislature as part of the Manship Statehouse Bureau. He is a native of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Posted inCriminal Justice
NOPD to continue partnership with Louisiana State Police amid DOJ civil rights investigation
The NOPD and LSP are relaunching ‘Operation Golden Eagle’ this summer.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Second phase of civil rights trial over Angola healthcare begins
In the remedy phase, the plaintiffs will try to convince a federal judge, who has already found the prison in violation of the constitution, to force the state to take corrective measures. Attorneys for the state are arguing that officials have already fixed the problems at Angola.
Posted inCriminal Justice
‘We got everything thrown at us’: Hutson says poor management under Gusman, lack of a real transition led to tumultuous first month as sheriff
Hutson is investigating broken security equipment she says was allowed to languish for months, as well as potentially missing records from the Gusman administration.
Posted inCriminal Justice
In New Orleans, city officials are no longer holding juveniles in the adult jail. A proposed state law may force them to.
The bill, which has already passed the state Senate, advanced through a House committee on Tuesday.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Bill to create parole panel for people in prison on split-jury convictions on hold
Amendments sought by criminal justice reform groups meet resistance over fears of opposition from powerful prosecutors’ organization.
Posted inNews
City has yet to determine use for nearly $1 million of conflicted court money
In 2020, the City Council told the court to return the money to defendants. State law says it must be used in “defraying the expenses of the criminal justice system.”
Posted inCriminal Justice
State Supreme Court hears case that could overturn hundreds of split-jury convictions
Reginald Reddick was convicted of murder by a non-unanimous jury. Though split juries were ruled unconstitutional, hundreds of old split-jury convictions are still considered valid.
Posted inNews
Louisiana Supreme Court to hear oral arguments in case that could determine if hundreds with split-jury verdicts are entitled to new trials
Advocates for prisoners convicted by split juries worry that a bill moving through the legislature could provide an excuse for the court to dodge the issue.
Posted inCriminal Justice
House committee advances bill creating prison medical oversight panel
Amendments adopted by the committee would require prison officials on the panel and remove its power to sign off on medical director hires.