Hutson is asking for $13 million more than what Mayor Cantrell proposed for her office.
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
After an autistic teen’s in-custody death, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office used criminal search warrants to dig into his past
Lawyers for the boy’s parents say the warrants were unconstitutional and violated state law.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Mental health care at David Wade Correctional Center ruled unconstitutional
Judge Elizabeth Foote called the conditions at David Wade “inhumane.”
Posted inCriminal Justice
Report: State has saved $150 million from 2017 criminal justice reform legislation package
Over 10,000 fewer people were in prison for nonviolent crimes in 2021 than in 2016.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Louisiana Supreme Court declines to grant new trials for people still in prison on non-unanimous jury convictions
The decision will impact around 1,500 cases.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Marijuana pardons passed last year should soon be reflected on criminal records, officials say
The pardons could affect roughly 10,000 cases in New Orleans.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Marijuana possession enforcement has ‘virtually vanished’ in New Orleans this year following council ordinance, NOPD policy change
Analysis shows there have been seven summonses issued in New Orleans in 2022, down from hundreds or thousands in previous years.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Federal judge says he still has received no information from Sheriff’s Office regarding jail deaths this summer
Sheriff Susan Hutson has faced ongoing criticism over lack of transparency since she took office in May.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Study: Last year, 911 calls responded to by NOPD were rarely for violent crime
Group says the statistics show a need for alternative, non-police responses.
Posted inCriminal Justice
After troubled pilot program, city moving forward with plan to respond to mental health emergencies without police
Mayor Cantrell has signed a $1.3 million contract with a non-profit to provide behavioral health crisis response services.