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Author: Nick Chrastil

About 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.

See where money for the controversial Phase III of the New Orleans jail is coming from 

September 29, 2022 Updated September 29, 2022
FEMA is covering the majority of the costs for the facility, but the city has reallocated nearly $30 million for the project.

Several detainees injured by DOC officers during shakedown of New Orleans jail last week

September 15, 2022 Updated September 15, 2022
Sheriff’s Office again offers little information on the operation or the alleged injuries.

US Dept. of Justice official expressed concerns over state’s ‘problematic’ plan to move kids to Angola, offered assistance

September 12, 2022 Updated September 14, 2022
The transfers could violate federal law and open the state up to litigation, a juvenile justice official at the federal agency wrote days after the state's plan was announced.

Hearing on suit challenging juvenile transfers to Angola ends without ruling from bench

September 8, 2022 Updated November 2, 2023
The judge presiding over the suit, who called the case against the state ‘thin,’ will issue a ruling later this month.

Federal judge hears testimony on state’s plan to transfer youth to Angola

September 6, 2022 Updated September 6, 2022
The lead plaintiff in a class-action suit against the state, a detainee at Bridge City Center for Youth, testified behind closed doors on Tuesday.

‘I almost died’: More New Orleans jail detainees say they sustained serious injuries in a raid last month, despite claims made by sheriff

September 2, 2022 Updated September 2, 2022
One man said he suffered two collapsed lungs after officers shot him with a bean-bag round and beat him, even as he was complying with orders. The Sheriff’s Office declined to comment on the new accounts.

Jail detainee says officer kicked him in the face during raid to end protest

August 29, 2022 Updated August 29, 2022
Ronald Craige, who is diabetic, said he was not offered insulin for three-days during the standoff, despite Sheriff Susan Hutson’s claims that detainees refused their meds.

State turns over documents related to housing youth at Angola

August 25, 2022 Updated August 25, 2022
The documents confirm that the facility will house a maximum-security behavioral treatment program.

Internal document outlining program for youth at Angola raises concerns among advocates

August 23, 2022 Updated August 24, 2022
A ‘program summary’ suggests that the Angola facility could be used as a maximum-security unit for youths housed at any OJJ facility, not just Bridge City.

Federal judge in consent decree case blasts Sheriff Hutson for lack of transparency

August 18, 2022 Updated August 18, 2022
Hutson has not consulted the court on recent jail violence, meetings on jail improvements.

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The Lens fights to reveal and report on issues that impact the community and the region. Staunchly defending the public's right to know and deeply committed to sharing our knowledge with the community at large. We center human impact in all our work.
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