Two bills before legislature aim to improve prison medical care
One bill would create a prison medical advisory council. The other would eliminate prisoner co-pays.
Category: Criminal Justice
Judge to city: No more delays on Phase III
City now says FEMA is causing delays.
Jail healthcare contract still undecided after selection committee defers vote
Wellpath has held the contract, worth millions per year, since 2014.
Orleans DA’s review of split-jury convictions has slowed since last year, but office maintains it’s making progress
After vacating 22 cases at once a month into Williams’ tenure, the reviews are now more individualized. The head of the Civil Rights Division now says the office can’t commit to vacating all non-unanimous cases.
In federal appeals court, city asks to be let out of construction of new jail building
A panel of appeals court judges appeared skeptical of the city’s arguments.
Bill filed at legislature aims to grant new trials to people in prison with non-unanimous convictions
A similar bill last year was voted down in committee.
With jury trials set to begin again in March, New Orleans criminal court prepares for huge volume of cases
Jury trials have come almost to a complete halt over the past two years, creating a massive backlog of cases.
After George Floyd’s murder, the New Orleans City Council created a committee to hear from ‘historically marginalized communities.’ It never met.
The Jerome “Big Duck” Smith Justice System Advisory committee was tasked with advising the council on criminal justice spending and policies.
Louisiana Supreme Court to hear case that could determine fate of hundreds convicted by split juries
The court will consider a 25-year-old murder case decided by a 10-2 jury.
Sheriff-elect Susan Hutson files opposition to Phase III in appellate court
Hutson says her reforms will bring mental health care into compliance with consent decree without requiring new facility.
