The women’s prison now has more cases than any other state correctional facility in Louisiana.
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
Judge dismisses suit seeking releases from federal prison with COVID-19 outbreak
The federal judge says he doesn’t have the authority to mandate releases of vulnerable prisoners from Oakdale. Seven Oakdale prisoners have died of the disease so far.
Posted inCoronavirus
After expanded testing, New Orleans jail sees spike in confirmed coronavirus cases
Orleans Sheriff’s Office has no plans to move patients to Camp J at Angola as other local jails have.
Posted inCoronavirus
Orleans Public Defenders announce furloughs in face of decreased revenue due to coronavirus
The cuts will affect about 67 employees.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Louisiana prison medical director steps down
Morrison’s departure comes in midst of COVID-19 pandemic, litigation from prisoners.
Posted inCoronavirus
Detainees in New Orleans, stuck in jail on parole holds, struggle to find legal recourse
Parole revocation hearings have been suspended since March.
Posted inCoronavirus
Governor sued over transfer of prisoners with coronavirus to Camp J at Angola
DOC creates furlough panel to determine inmate releases.
Posted inCoronavirus
The Louisiana Department of Health issued recommendations on how to stop the spread of coronavirus in prisons — then rescinded them
Governor’s office says the memo was inadvertently released. Advocates worry politics is being placed over public health.
Posted inCoronavirus
Louisiana federal prison starts releasing prisoners from minimum-security camp, according to inmates
The releases come five days after the U.S. Attorney General directed prisons to “maximize appropriate use of home confinement.”
Posted inCoronavirus
Following five inmate deaths, coronavirus has spread to a new facility at Louisiana federal prison
The ACLU has filed a class-action suit requesting the release of medically-vulnerable prisoners.