A monitor overseeing the New Orleans jail recently criticized the Sheriff’s Office over continued problems with drugs and contraband.
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
Angola prisoner who says his parole was stripped illegally appears in Baton Rouge court
Tuesday’s hearing did not address the merits of the case. Attorneys instead argued over whether the court has jurisdiction.
Posted inCriminal Justice
‘In other words, nothing has been accomplished today’: No decision on new trial in Bossier split-jury case
Brandon Jackson was convicted of armed robbery by a 10-2 jury in 1997. Split verdicts are no longer legal. But his conviction, and those for hundreds more, is still considered valid.
Posted inCriminal Justice
No recommendation, or denial, on new jail building from City Planning Commission
A Tuesday commission vote on the proposal came out 4 to 4.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Angola prisoner Bobby Sneed files petition in state court alleging unlawful detention
Sneed was stripped of his parole prior to release despite the prison disciplinary board clearing him of a contraband charge.
Posted inCriminal Justice
City Planning Commission staff recommends approval of Phase III jail facility
The commission will vote on the zoning change next week, which will ultimately need to be approved by the City Council.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Despite defending reality series set inside jail, emails show Sheriff’s Office kicked out ‘Jailbirds: New Orleans’ film crew last year
After agreeing to allow the production crew into the jail, Sheriff’s Office officials became concerned about how it would be portrayed.
Posted inCriminal Justice
A ‘Jim Crow jury’ prisoner fights for freedom
Brandon Jackson is one of more than 1,500 people still incarcerated in Louisiana on non-unanimous verdicts, though the United States Supreme Court ruled split verdicts unconstitutional last year. Will he get a chance at freedom?
Posted inCriminal Justice
Class-action settlement mandates time outside of cells, communal meals and recreation for death row prisoners
The suit was filed in 2017 on behalf of death row prisoners, claiming that Angola’s highly restrictive conditions violated their constitutional rights.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Orleans sheriff’s office criticized for allowing ‘gritty reality series’ to film inside jail
Attorneys who represent detainees in consent decree say they were misled by Gusman’s office