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.
City Council passes ordinance effectively removing all penalties for simple marijuana possession under city law, pardons roughly 10,000 past cases
Police can still cite people under state marijuana laws, but DA Jason Williams has said he will refuse minor drug cases.
COVID cases on the rise in state prisons as local sheriffs begin transfers to Angola quarantine facility
Camp J, a former disciplinary facility at the Louisiana State Penitentiary, has been used to quarantine prisoners from across the state, a move that has generated criticism from civil rights groups.
State prisoner enters third week of hunger strike over restrictive housing conditions
Prisoners have alleged that they have been kept in hot cells for 23 hours per day and abused by prison staff.
After COVID-19 exposures at criminal courthouse, some judges move back to all virtual proceedings
Public defenders push for return to virtual court until surge subsides.
Prisoners at David Wade Correctional facility went on hunger strike to protest conditions, alleged overuse of restrictive housing
Prisoners participating in the action described a lack of mental health and medical care, being denied access to their families and attorneys and being exposed to extreme temperatures.
Judge denies city’s attempt to halt Phase III jail construction
Cantrell administration hoped to delay work on the facility, which it opposes, pending an appeal of a January court order to move forward with it.
Judge dismisses prisoner’s lawsuit against parole board, but calls allegations ‘extremely troubling’
Angola prisoner Bobby Sneed sued the state parole board after it rescinded his release order, charging that the board and its director ignored procedure and law to retaliate against him for going public with his case.
City Council passes resolution opposing Phase III of the New Orleans jail, supporting retrofit
The city has been ordered to move forward with construction of the facility, but that will require the City Council’s approval.
After qualifying for sheriff election, Susan Hutson joins council member, reform advocates opposing new jail facility
The City Council is poised to vote on a resolution signaling support for a retrofit of the current jail, rather than the controversial Phase III building.
