Groups push for treatment and care options outside of the criminal justice system
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
Consent decree plaintiffs, Justice Department OK handing control of jail back to Gusman
Lawyers say the jail has made progress but dispute that it is in full compliance with the consent decree.
Posted inCriminal Justice
New Orleans City Council President Jason Williams pleads not guilty to tax fraud charges
Williams is charged with 11 federal counts, including conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government.
Posted inCoronavirus
With funding uncertainties exacerbated by coronavirus, public defenders hopeful for permanent statewide solutions
Legislators appear open to changing ‘user-pay’ funding system for criminal justice.
Posted inCoronavirus
Memo: Following death of inmate who tested positive, Sheriff’s Office says no new known cases of coronavirus at jail
Jail compliance director tells federal judge that all inmates housed near Christian Freeman, who died last month while positive for the virus, have since been tested and cleared.
Posted inCriminal Justice
New Orleans bail fund plans a ‘mass bailout’ this weekend
Group plans to spend more than $200,000 to bail dozens of people out of New Orleans jail.
Posted inCoronavirus
Man who died in custody at New Orleans jail was positive for COVID-19
Christian Freeman died a week after the Sheriff’s Office said there were no known infections at the jail.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Inside the ACLU of Louisiana’s plan to bring ‘up to 1,000’ cases challenging racist policing throughout the state
The organization seeks to enlist private law firms to help with the effort.
Posted inCriminal Justice
New state law seeks to fix New Orleans judges’ decades-old conflict of interest on court fines, fees and bail
Criminal justice reform advocates say the law will not solve the underlying problem of the state’s user-funded justice system.
Posted inSection G
The Section G Project Part 4: The Legacy
The final story in our series on the life and career of New Orleans Judge Frank Shea.