Advocates for prisoners convicted by split juries worry that a bill moving through the legislature could provide an excuse for the court to dodge the issue.
Amendments adopted by the committee would require prison officials on the panel and remove its power to sign off on medical director hires.
Hutson, who ran on a reform platform, defeated longtime incumbent Marlin Gusman in last year’s election.
Committee members were split on the measure in spite of a compromise reached between advocates and DOC.
The meeting is being held as part of a FEMA review process, which the city says has caused delays in pre-construction work.
Group says the city should use federal funds for mental health treatment, violence intervention programming.
The judge said he will likely give the city until mid-May to complete a required FEMA report.
After DOC objections, New Orleans legislator says she will work out a compromise, which could result in reduced, rather than eliminated, medical fees for some.
The city was ordered to submit documents proving that FEMA requires additional public engagement prior to construction of the jail facility. A federal judge said the documents produced “simply do not support that contention.”
The selection of Wellpath for the multimillion-dollar contract came in spite of criticism from incoming Sheriff Susan Hutson, who takes office next month. The committee vote means the Cantrell administration is now free to negotiate a final contract.
