Eight Oakdale prisoners have already died from the disease.
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 inCoronavirus
Federal judge denies challenge to state’s Camp J program to house local inmates with COVID-19
Plaintiffs argue the camp is unsanitary and has inadequate medical care.
Posted inCoronavirus
Plea deals resume via video feed at New Orleans criminal court
The court has been closed, and many proceedings suspended, for two months due to the COVID-19 crisis.
Posted inCoronavirus
Oakdale inmate dies from COVID-19 two days after scheduled release
‘I would like for you to put in bold letters that we do hold the prison responsible for this,’ the man’s son told The Lens.
Posted inCoronavirus
Panelists assess coronavirus’ impact on prisons, jails, and criminal justice reform efforts
Nearly 350 state prisoners have tested positive, 80 in New Orleans jail.
Posted inCoronavirus
Lawsuit filings reveal new details about use of Angola facility to house coronavirus patients
DOC says the plan has “worked very well thus far.” The plaintiffs say inmates don’t receive adequate medical care and conditions are unsanitary.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Official in charge of jail says he thinks it’s in shape for Sheriff Gusman to retake control
Compliance director says jail is in ‘100 percent substantial compliance’ with consent decree.
Posted inCoronavirus
New Orleans Police Department to end ‘informational’ checkpoints
The checkpoints, which were scheduled to go to the end of the city’s stay-at-home order, have been criticized by civil rights groups.
Posted inCoronavirus
‘It’s a war’: New Orleans jail struggles to manage COVID-19 outbreak as it implements mass testing
The jail’s compliance director speaks with The Lens about his decision to expand inmate testing and the challenges of keeping a deadly infection in check in a confined environment.
Posted inCoronavirus
‘They’re scared to death’: Former prisoners seek to shine light on COVID case growth among locked-up women in state
The Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women is reporting more positive cases than any other state prison.