The number of positives jumped by 13 over the weekend. OPSO considering housing positive inmates in state prisons.
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
Recent New Orleans arrestee positive for coronavirus, state Supreme Court warns a jail outbreak could be ‘catastrophic’
At least three people have tested positive for the virus while in custody at the New Orleans jail. Twenty-two Sheriff’s Office staffers have also tested positive.
Posted inCoronavirus
Four confirmed coronavirus deaths at Louisiana federal prison
Inmates say they fear for their lives. Officials are no longer testing and will not release number of suspected cases
Posted inCoronavirus
New Orleans Juvenile Court extends closure
The court was originally scheduled to reopen this week. That has been extended to at least April 13, and could be extended further.
Posted inCoronavirus
Louisiana federal prison no longer testing symptomatic inmates for coronavirus due to ‘sustained transmission’
Bureau of Prisons does not plan to release number of presumed positive prisoners.
Posted inCoronavirus
Two inmates at the New Orleans jail test positive for coronavirus
Eleven staffers, six healthcare contractor employees have tested positive as well.
Posted inCoronavirus
Criminal court judges deny petition for inmate releases
Judges say no one in jail is currently being held on minor, non-violent charges alone.
Posted inCoronavirus
Orleans Public Defenders identify over 200 people in jail on non-violent charges, urge immediate release
The Sheriff’s Office has joined calls to lower the jail’s population.
Posted inCoronavirus
Amid coronavirus fears, public defenders petition judges to order release of high-risk inmates; sheriff joins in call for more releases
The petition also calls for the release of anyone arrested on low-level charges
Posted inCoronavirus
Data show steep declines in New Orleans arrests over past several days
Some low-level, non-violent arrests continue.