The New Orleans City Council passed a law last year requiring automatic pardons for possession of small amounts of marijuana.
Prisoners claim they are not treated for mental illness, kept in solitary confinement for months.
Hutson will have a lengthy transition period, not taking office until May. It’s not yet clear whether, or to what degree, she will be included in decision-making during the transition.
Municipal Court judge says that the process for such a large blanket pardon was not made clear before the council approved it.
Sneed is suing the state parole board for illegal imprisonment, following an unusual decision to strip his parole last spring.
Officials say the total number of people in restrictive housing has gone down, but the state doesn’t keep enough data to substantiate that claim.
In a major upset, Hutson defeats 17-year incumbent Sheriff Marlin Gusman.
State must release Sneed from Angola without delay, a Baton Rouge judge ruled on Thursday.
Incumbent Sheriff Marlin Gusman has taken credit for reducing the jail’s footprint and population. But his record shows him frequently working to increase the size of the jail.
Advocacy group worries that the patrols will be used to harass street performers.
