Death-penalty opponents say a committee created by the Legislature never met publicly.
Category: Criminal Justice
Posted inCriminal Justice
Death-penalty study suggests using nitrogen to carry out executions
Amid nationwide controversy surrounding lethal injection, Louisiana officials are recommending a new way to execute the condemned: death by nitrogen. And the head of the state prison system also wants legislators to reconsider an execution-secrecy bill that was introduced but dropped during last year’s legislative session.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Live blog: Federal judge holding hearing to discuss NOPD consent decree
Public event will be first of four designed to look at different aspects of the federal agreement.
Posted inCriminal Justice, Opinion
Gusman pays crony a million a year for services that aren’t specified
Investigative journalists are doing great work around here — a good thing, given the persistence of political sleaze.
Posted inCriminal Justice
New Orleans police still lack revised policy on dealing with immigration issues
The department has submitted a policy change to federal overseers, but the decision is languishing.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Years after rapper was convicted for killing, questions raised about his case
In 2000, someone shot a young man in a Slidell club. Investigators quickly zeroed in on McKinley Phipps Jr., a rising star in New Orleans’ rap scene. He was convicted of manslaughter. But witnesses have raised questions about the key eyewitness, and one woman says she was coerced into pointing the finger at Phipps.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Executions in Louisiana on hold until at least June
The state didn’t say why it sought the delay. A scheduling conference is now set for two weeks after the 2015 legislative session ends.
Posted inCriminal Justice, Opinion
George Carter, 15, was not a demon and not an angel, but he’s dead — and that should be our focus
George was found shot to death on Piety Street on Oct. 21. News reports picked up on his membership in Kids Rethink New Orleans Schools, and subsequent reports say he may have been involved in an armed robbery. Are these the facts that really matter?
Posted inCriminal Justice, Opinion
Chief public defender: Vote tomorrow for judges willing to back sentencing reform
Twenty-year sentences for non-violent, victimless crimes are both unjust and a huge waste of taxpayer dollars.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Simple change could add $20 to traffic tickets in New Orleans, to benefit DA
District Attorney says flick of the pen would help his office; Criminal Court projects deficit this year.