State reports decrease in prisoner COVID cases, slight increase among prison staff
Gusman reports 18 cases among detainees, 19 among staff and contractors at the New Orleans jail.
Category
Criminal Justice
As COVID-19 surges, Louisiana has only vaccinated a quarter of its incarcerated youth
Advocates worry about incarcerated youth during the pandemic.
COVID cases among state prisoners more than double since last week, with eight hospitalizations
Eight state prisoners are hospitalized. And the number of cases at the New Orleans jail remains the same, according to a lawyer for the Sheriff’s Office.
Candidates for Orleans sheriff face off in forum
Louisiana prosecutors begin reporting data on witness arrests
After The Lens reported that prosecutors had failed to report how often they used controversial witness warrants, two years after a law requiring the reports took effect, most DA’s offices have submitted the information.
City Council passes ordinance effectively removing all penalties for simple marijuana possession under city law, pardons roughly 10,000 past cases
Police can still cite people under state marijuana laws, but DA Jason Williams has said he will refuse minor drug cases.
COVID cases on the rise in state prisons as local sheriffs begin transfers to Angola quarantine facility
Camp J, a former disciplinary facility at the Louisiana State Penitentiary, has been used to quarantine prisoners from across the state, a move that has generated criticism from civil rights groups.
State prisoner enters third week of hunger strike over restrictive housing conditions
Prisoners have alleged that they have been kept in hot cells for 23 hours per day and abused by prison staff.
DA’s office settles all claims in civil rights suit over use of fake subpoenas
The suit accused New Orleans prosecutors of violating the civil rights of witnesses.
After COVID-19 exposures at criminal courthouse, some judges move back to all virtual proceedings
Public defenders push for return to virtual court until surge subsides.
