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.
Category
Criminal Justice
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
Monitors anticipate NOPD could be in full compliance with consent decree by July
During first month in office, DA Jason Williams dismissed over 400 cases previously accepted by Cannizzaro
The office accepted 247 cases in the same period.
After past troubled attempts, New Orleans looks to set up new electronic monitoring system for criminal defendants
The details are still being worked out, but the city has already taken a look at one proposal.
