The state law was changed in 2021.
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
Mayor’s Office of Gun Violence Prevention has ceased most operations
The city says employees will be rehired once a new fiscal agent is approved.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Conditions at a north Louisiana prison were found unconstitutional. A trial starts next week to determine what should be done.
The prison says it has made substantial improvements to conditions and mental health care, but civil rights attorneys say prisoners are still suffering.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Phase III jail facility likely much costlier than expected, renewing calls for alternatives
City officials say that FEMA regulations require them to rebid the project.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Many criminal defendants deemed mentally incompetent to stand trial are languishing in parish jails, despite being ordered care at state hospital
The health department says that they are working to address delays in admissions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Posted inCriminal Justice
State seeks to dismiss lawsuit over youth at Angola, as attorneys push for more access and information
Eight kids are currently being held at the Angola facility, state officials say.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Federal judge nixes Sheriff Hutson’s proposed consent decree NDA
The judge said that giving the sheriff sole authority to determine what is and isn’t confidential information related to the case was “never going to happen.”
Posted inCriminal Justice
Proposed 2023 budget close to providing funding parity between New Orleans DA, public defenders following 2020 ordinance
Council President Helena Moreno to introduce amendment to fund homicide unit for DAs office while maintaining parity for defenders.
Posted inNews
Louisiana’s state-run juvenile detention facilities no longer accepting kids, citing lack of bed space
The Office of Juvenile Justice will ask judges to release kids who can be “safely reintegrated back into the community.”
Posted inCriminal Justice
Months after New Orleans jail detainees injured in DOC shakedown, civil rights lawyers ask federal judge to force sheriff to turn over records
The request comes amid an ongoing dispute over transparency at the jail.