The City Council’s Criminal Justice Committee met this morning to discuss inmate-release issues that could have an effect on the size of the city’s planned new jail, but it’s unclear whether adequate public notice was given about the meeting under the state’s open meetings law.
Category: Criminal Justice
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics, Investigations
City hasn't touched $10 million for courthouse repairs approved in 2000
City officials haven’t fully answered why they continue to sit on a $10 million pile of taxpayer money approved by voters a decade ago for courthouse repairs.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Landrieu relents, and opens jail-advisory meetings
Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s administration has decided to open previously secret meetings that could decide the fate of controversial jail expansion plans. Landrieu convened a stakeholders group in July, responding to concerns about Sheriff Marlin Gusman’s proposals to rebuild and expand the Orleans Parish Prison complex. But the meetings would be closed to the public, his […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Major ad causes minor ripple
A full-page ad in today’s Times-Picayune urging the public to call elected city officials to protest jail-expansion plans had generated just 33 calls by 3 p.m. The ad, which cost $12,000, was paid for by a group of like-minded criminal justice reform advocates unhappy about a plan by Sheriff Marlin Gusman to expand the Orleans […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Environment, Government & Politics, Schools
Successful post-Katrina programs in jeopardy of losing federal backing
The Lower Ninth Ward Health Clinic relies on post-Katrina federal grants to operate. Those grants are due to expire this fall putting the clinic in jeopardy Without a continuation of post-Katrina grants for education, health care and improving the criminal justice system, New Orleans risks losing gains made since the storm, says a report released […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Jail advisory group will not open meetings to the public, administration says
Though top city officials have convened a group to advise on a controversial proposed expansion of the Orleans Parish Prison, the group’s meetings are not open to the public because it is not a “formal working group,” Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s director of intergovernmental affairs told The Lens. The Landrieu administration has “convened different stakeholders” to gather and […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
Landrieu’s group studying jail meets in private; no plans to take comments from public
A mayoral advisory group examining the controversial planned expansion of the Orleans Parish Prison apparently held its first meeting recently, but Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s administration said the group is meeting privately and is not open to public input. “The public process will take place at City Council when they hear the recommendations,” of the group, […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Investigations
Officer connected to Serpas' daughter totaled NOPD cruiser while driving drunk
Criminal drunk driving charges were dropped for the New Orleans Police Department officer, but city officials did not respond for requests for an explanation.
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
NOPD might need consultant for password management
With the city on track to blow out its budget by $67 million this year, it’s obvious that some departments have been a little loose with their spending. But going over budget by 2,464 percent? And only halfway through the year? Really? That’s the rate of overspending on the line-item for consultants by the New […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
Prison expansion on hold until advisory group speaks out
In response to community concerns, the New Orleans City Council on Thursday said it will delay final action to let the Orleans Parish Sheriff greatly expand his prison. Though council members approved a zoning matter for the prison Thursday, they said they will wait to vote on a related measure until a newly formed mayoral […]