Category
Criminal Justice
‘Torturous’: Judge places solitary confinement and mental health care at David Wade prison under federal oversight
The north Louisiana prison was using solitary confinement as a “depository for the mentally ill,” judge had ruled.
Fifth Circuit appeals court sides with Angola’s Farm Line workers
Though the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals differed with some of the district court’s July 2 decision, the higher court agreed that Angola Farm Line workers deserve water, rest, and equipment to protect from heat
Judge orders Angola to provide Farm Line workers access to shade, rest, sunscreen, and water
‘It isn’t very clear who is responsible for the jail getting to that cap’
The Orleans Justice Center has surpassed the city’s jail population cap, sparking questions about how to increase releases while reducing bookings — and what the rising jail population means for the health of those incarcerated and for the city of New Orleans.
Angola prisoners ask to end field work in worst heat
For decades, Angola has forced prisoners to work in fields in extreme heat. Today, they’re urging a federal judge to halt the practice — prisoners have filed a motion as part of a proposed class-action lawsuit to end the practice of forced agricultural labor at the prison
Federal judge: ‘I don’t think robbers would ask for help’
‘Show us the video’
Louisiana paying D.C. attorneys $1,000 an hour to defend against probe into state police
Last year, the firm began raking in big money for legal services related to a DOJ investigation into patterns of misconduct by the Louisiana State Police.
Paying sheriffs to keep the kids
‘State dollars attached to each juvenile’ would allow sheriffs to build more local juvenile-detention centers, then get paid to keep kids who are placed in state custody. Is the state paying to keep kids closer to home or incentivizing people to put kids in jail?
