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Category
Criminal Justice

Asking why and how, and what needs to be done.

State Supreme Court declines to take up case about Louisiana kids jailed out-of-state

The state's highest court refuses opportunity to resolve long-standing dispute about whether shipping detained kids out of state violates Louisiana law.
by Nick Chrastil June 5, 2023 Updated November 2, 2023

City rolls out non-police 911 mental-health response

People experiencing a mental-health crisis could be more frequently stabilized and treated, not arrested.
by Nick Chrastil June 1, 2023 Updated June 1, 2023

A group of ‘violence interrupters’  worked the streets of New Orleans to prevent retaliatory shootings — until they were sidelined 2 years ago

by Nick Chrastil and Katy Reckdahl May 25, 2023 Updated August 11, 2026

Neighborhood security stopped 3 young Black males; A federal judge is weighing a lawsuit over it

by Nick Chrastil May 24, 2023 Updated May 25, 2023

Behind the Lens Episode 204: ‘Some of the most shocking things we heard about were medical and mental health care’

Our guests this week are reporter Nick Chrastil on what deficiencies monitors found at the Orleans Parish Jail and reporter Marta Jewson on racial diversity in the city's charter school system.
by Carolyne Heldman May 19, 2023 Updated May 19, 2023

Orleans jail monitors disclose for first time issues found under Hutson’s leadership

Monitors tasked with overseeing the New Orleans jail and tracking its compliance with the long-running federal consent decree said staff falsified suicide-watch documentation, rubber-stamped investigations to justify uses of force, and that the facility is dangerously understaffed.
by Nick Chrastil May 16, 2023 Updated May 19, 2023

Louisiana leads nation in percentage of people in adult prisons for crimes they committed as kids

by Nick Chrastil May 10, 2023 Updated May 11, 2023

After 23 years in prison for killing her abuser, she hopes no one in Louisiana has to do that again

by Julie O'Donoghue for the Louisiana Illuminator May 6, 2023 Updated May 8, 2023

A Louisiana lawmaker wants mandatory life without parole sentence for fentanyl distribution

by Nick Chrastil April 20, 2023 Updated April 26, 2023

Sheriff turns over information related to questionable uses of force

by Nick Chrastil April 7, 2023 Updated April 7, 2023

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About The Lens

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The Lens
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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For more than a decade, we have reported on issues as well as public policy meant to address the needs of residents. The Lens seeks to focus on the inherent inequality that has created a multi-tiered system. We, at The Lens seek to uncover, illuminate, inform and take part in a forward-looking community. Join us.

 
 

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