Skip to content

Focused On

  • Katrina20
  • Justice
  • Living with Industry
  • NOLA Public Schools

Main Navigation

The Lens
  • Subscribe
  • ❤ Donate
The Lens
  • Subscribe
  • ❤ Donate

Focused On

  • Katrina20
  • Justice
  • Living with Industry
  • NOLA Public Schools

Topics

  • Criminal Justice
  • Environment
  • Government & Politics
  • Land Use
  • Schools

Sign Up for the Latest News

  • The Lens Newsletter
  • About The Lens
  • Our Staff

Follow The Lens

  • Bluesky
  • Instagram
  • Facebook

Listen to Behind The Lens Podcast

  • Spotify
  • Katrina20
  • Criminal Justice
  • Schools
  • Opinion
  • In the N.O.
  • Environment
  • Podcast
  • About The Lens
  • Support Us

Author: Nick Chrastil

About 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.

Council approves resolution opposing Phase III jail building, declines to vote on alternative retrofit plan

February 3, 2022 Updated February 3, 2022
The resolution instructs the council’s attorneys to prepare and submit an amicus brief in federal appeals court expressing the council’s opposition to the controversial jail building.

Council members, sheriff-elect say they will oppose new jail building in federal appeals court

February 1, 2022 Updated February 1, 2022
A proposed council resolution calls for an amicus brief against Phase III. It also suggests that the council may not vote to approve an alternative plan, saying the vote is not necessary.

Louisiana State Police used surveillance drones at George Floyd protests in New Orleans and Baton Rouge

January 27, 2022 Updated January 27, 2022
A New Orleans surveillance watchdog group calls the deployment of drones over protests a misuse of technology.

DA’s office asks for bigger budget for criminal investigations, prosecutions

January 24, 2022 Updated January 24, 2022
Williams wants $1.3 million for more prosecutors, a full-time embed at the city surveillance hub and other priorities.

Reported COVID cases in Louisiana prisons more than double in a week

January 24, 2022 Updated January 24, 2022
Cases among prison staff are also up. The spike follows major increases in the general state, national population due to the omicron variant.

Mental health care at state prison is ‘insufficient, and almost non-existent,’ expert testifies in federal civil rights trial

January 20, 2022 Updated November 2, 2022
The case, filed in 2018, is in its second week of trial.

Significant COVID-19 outbreaks reported at New Orleans jail, Louisiana state prisons

January 13, 2022 Updated January 13, 2022
Nearly 100 detainees at the jail are reported to be positive, and more than 400 at state prisons.

In first day of civil rights trial, former David Wade prisoners describe years of solitary confinement, filthy living areas and poor mental health care

January 11, 2022 Updated February 4, 2022
Civil rights groups filed the federal class-action suit nearly four years ago. The trial finally began this week.

Bobby Sneed set free after months-long fight with state parole board

January 11, 2022 Updated January 11, 2022
The former Angola prisoner sued the board in state and federal court after members stripped his release last year.

NOPD announces it will no longer issue citations for simple possession of marijuana, months after council pardon ordinance

January 7, 2022 Updated January 7, 2022
The New Orleans City Council passed a law last year requiring automatic pardons for possession of small amounts of marijuana.

Posts navigation

  • «
  • 1
  • …
  • 13
  • 14
  • 15
  • 16
  • 17
  • …
  • 39
  • »

About The Lens

The Lens fights to reveal and report on issues that impact the community and the region. Staunchly defending the public's right to know and deeply committed to sharing our knowledge with the community at large. We center human impact in all our work.

Support The Lens

We depend on your support. A generous gift in any amount helps us continue to bring you this service.

Donate Now

Newsletter

Sign up

Most Popular

Judge rules permit for LNG terminal in Cameron Parish ignored potential climate impactsJudge rules permit for LNG terminal in Cameron Parish ignored potential climate impactsOctober 17, 2025Elise Plunk, Louisiana IlluminatorEnvironment
No Papers! No Fear!No Papers! No Fear!August 5, 2025José Torres-Tama Katrina20
Boxing Up Choice: Louisiana AG sues the FDA to halt the shipment of abortion meds. And the Leah Chase School Principal Resigns.Boxing Up Choice: Louisiana AG sues the FDA to halt the shipment of abortion meds. And the Leah Chase School Principal Resigns.October 17, 2025Carolyne HeldmanBehind The Lens
The Lens
The Lens fights to reveal and report on issues that impact the community and the region. Staunchly defending the public's right to know and deeply committed to sharing our knowledge with the community at large. We center human impact in all our work.
  • Bluesky
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
INN Member LION Member
© 2024 The Lens. All Rights Reserved.

Our reporting has more urgency than ever.


For more than a decade, we have reported on issues as well as public policy meant to address the needs of residents. The Lens seeks to focus on the inherent inequality that has created a multi-tiered system. We, at The Lens seek to uncover, illuminate, inform and take part in a forward-looking community. Join us.

 
 

Continue to The Lens