Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman (right) takes on mayoral staffer Katie Dignan at Wednesday’s meeting of the parish law enforcement district. Photo by Matt Davis. By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | Last time he presided over a meeting of the Orleans Parish Law Enforcement District, Sheriff Marlin Gusman lambasted the Landrieu administration for […]
Category: Criminal Justice
Posted inCriminal Justice
Gusman to consider action on $7 million tax
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer A little-scrutinized but powerful government body is holding a special meeting Wednesday morning to discuss the tax rate it charges city property owners. The notice from the Orleans Parish Law Enforcement District provides scant information on the purpose of the meeting, though it says this will be an […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Audit finds that Criminal Court is holding money that should go to crime victims
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | An audit of Orleans Parish Criminal District Court found “material weakness” and “significant deficiency” in the 2010 books, reporting that the court held on to more than $300,000 that it was supposed to pay out to crime victims. The court has about $650,000 sitting in a fund […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Former inmates, others give DOJ an earful
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | Community members told the Department of Justice of their concerns about jail conditions under Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman tonight at a Central City forum organized by the Orleans Parish Prison Reform Coalition. The coalition, whose 30 member organizations include the ACLU of Louisiana, the National Lawyers […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
Booze Board defers action on 'obscene' 7th Ward saloon; slaps fine on bar near Tulane
By Karen Gadbois, The Lens staff writer | Most of the agenda for today’s lengthy Alcohol Beverage Control Board meeting was postponed or settled beforehand. But one high profile 7th Ward bar, having reached an agreement with the city before the meeting, stuck around to hear the decision entered into the record. The Duck Off […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
While waiting for federal grant, Landrieu taps charitable trust for stop-the-violence program
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | Mayor Mitch Landrieu is hoping to land a $2.5 million federal grant to run a violence-prevention program, but while that grant remains uncertain, he’s using $250,000 to start the work. Landrieu mentioned the pending federal grant in passing during Saturday’s citywide crime summit, called Save Our Sons, […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
Prison Reform Coalition to hold forum on Orleans Parish Prison; tune in to webcast
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | The Lens will host a live web stream Tuesday evening of a community forum hosted by a coalition that wants to encourage the U.S. Department of Justice to take legal action against Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman over jail conditions. The meeting, being organized by the Orleans […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
Giant billboard targets jail per diems; DOJ to attend public meeting on Tuesday
Reform coalition members Dana Kaplan and Norris Henderson in the shadow of the new billboard, which reads: “Stop jailing people to make money.” Photo by Matt Davis. By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | The Department Of Justice has accepted an invitation to a community forum next week hosted by a reform coalition, which […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
Censorship of inmate mail at Orleans Prison alleged in civil rights lawsuit against Gusman
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | Orleans Parish Prison inmates can receive bodice rippers and The Times-Picayune by mail, but not serious novels or a periodical on prisoner rights, according to civil-rights attorneys who have filed a suit against Sheriff Marlin Gusman alleging censorship. Acceptable to whom? Plaintiffs argue that Gusman’s definition of […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
Deputy jailed on rape, kidnapping charges
Correction: An earlier version of this story mistakenly reported that the deputy had a court appearance on Monday. In fact, the District Attorney’s Office has until Nov. 9 to accept or refuse charges; a court appearance is not scheduled. By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer| An Orleans Parish sheriff’s deputy was arrested Friday on […]