District attorney to set up ‘satellite offices’ at public libraries and community centers around New Orleans
The offices will focus on engaging residents to work with the DA’s office and will house the DA’s diversion program.
Category
Criminal Justice
Group has filed more than 1,000 post-conviction relief applications challenging non-unanimous jury verdicts since Supreme Court ruling
This week will mark one year since the Supreme Court ruled that non-unanimous jury verdicts were unconstitutional. For about 1,500 Louisiana prisoners, that means a legal deadline is fast approaching.
Proposed state law would give discretion to judges on habitual offender sentences
Judges would be allowed to overrule prosecutors seeking decades-long sentence enhancements.
New policy says Orleans prosecutors should refuse all low-level drug charges except those for heroin and fentanyl
Previously, Williams said only that he would refuse low-level marijuana charges.
New DA’s office interim policy removes procedural barriers for people challenging convictions
Claims of innocence should be heard on the merits, officials in Williams' office say.
Orleans magistrate commissioner disciplined by Supreme Court for forging client’s signature
Albert Thibodeaux was given a six month deferred suspension from practicing law.
A quarter of people incarcerated in the Orleans Parish jail have received a COVID-19 vaccine, according to sheriff
Defendants whose non-unanimous convictions were tossed take plea deals on lesser charges
More than a dozen people appeared in court on Wednesday after making deals with the Orleans Parish DA’s office. Many are now set to go free immediately.
State traffic enforcement grant includes arrest ‘targets,’ possibly violating state law against quotas
The state denies that the language creates quotas, saying that funding is not dependent on meeting the targets.
Court hearings suspended this week as DA’s office and public defenders attempt to address backlog
Public defenders have pushed for mass dismissals of old cases and misdemeanors, but DA Jason Williams says prosecutors will look at each case individually
