Category
Criminal Justice
Asking why and how, and what needs to be done.
Despite mayor’s flipflop on decree, city winnows list of would-be police monitors
A committee's business today was to winnow the dozen bids for the monitor's job down to a lucky five.
Slashed budget leaves hundreds of indigent defendants lawyerless
The city’s numerous new anti-violence and anti-crime initiatives are driving the spike in cases that involve multiple defendants, the public defenders office says. One recent case had 10 co-defendants.
Councilwoman agrees that sheriff needs another building for more prisoners
Orleans Parish Prison plan doesn't include space for mentally ill; sheriff proposing 600-bed expansion.
Feds charge two former sheriff’s employees in bid-rigging, bribery scheme
Sens and Hoffman “engaged in a rigged bidding process in which real bids would be submitted, along with phony bids, to give the appearance of competition.”
Judge in BP civil trial providing public with unusual access to web, records
Ban on laptops in the courtroom lifted; reporters can sign up for Web access for real-time reporting.
Private group upgrades criminal-justice computers, but who’s in charge?
The myriad criminal-justice agencies in New Orleans have benefitted from efforts by a local foundation to increase the efficiency and cooperation of sharing information. But even the federal supporters of the program have raised questions about who's in charge -- and who will have to pay to maintain this new system.
Former Sheriff’s Office purchasing chief, friend of Gusman, resigns from jail
John Sens resigned from his late Friday as a federal grand jury investigates contracting at the jail complex.
Ruling stays execution of elderly killer who tortured stepson
Judge says Christopher Sepulvado is entitled to learn more about the state's plan to put him to death with a single drug.
Company with family, political ties does big business with OPSO
Metro Business Supplies has done $1.7 million in business with the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office since Hurricane Katrina. The man who landed the job, Richard Schlaudecker, is married to the daughter of Chief Deputy Gerald Ursin.
