The juvenile jail will remain at a location adjacent to Bayou St. John and the planned home of McDonogh 35 High School. By Steve Beatty, The Lens staff writer | Despite concerns from some neighbors, Mayor Mitch Landrieu said this week that the city will rebuild its juvenile jail where it now stands – right […]
Category: Criminal Justice
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
Others dispute sheriff's contention that deal will happen without federal court oversight
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman insists that he and the U.S. Justice Department will reach an out-of-court agreement over conditions at his jail, but Mayor Mitch Landrieu, a Justice Department official and others familiar with the negotiations tell a different story. The department first threatened Gusman with […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
NOPD officer accused of off-duty shooting will be retried after jury deadlocks
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | A jury was unable to reach a verdict this evening in the case of a New Orleans Police officer who was arrested after firing his gun during an off-duty altercation in December. The District Attorney’s Office plans to retry Officer Jermaine Lecour in September, spokesman Chris Bowman […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
Judge lets stand charges against Eris revelers accused of disturbing the peace
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | Saying she was confused by the facts at hand, a New Orleans judge today did not dismiss charges and set a trial date for two people accused of disturbing the peace at a raucous, unpermitted Eris parade in Faubourg Marigny during Carnival, which was broken up by […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
Leadership Forum impresario still hasn't paid contractors left in the lurch from April event
By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | Nearly two months after globetrotting entrepreneur Bill Loiry told The Lens that he would pay stiffed New Orleans contractors who worked on a Gulf Coast Leadership Summit held here in April, most still haven’t been paid in full. Megan Hargroder, left, tweets from the Gulf Coast Leadership […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Investigations
Overmedicating young inmates called chemical restraint
Antipsychotic drugs like Seroquel, developed specifically for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, are being prescribed to manage young inmates without either disorder, despite dangerous side effects.
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
Sheriff's Office to be placed under federal consent decree, jail panelist says
Loyola Professor Michael Cowan, shown left at a meeting of the jail working group, says the DOJ is debating terms of a consent decree which would put the Sheriff’s Office under federal oversight. Photo by Matt Davis. By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | The U.S. Department of Justice is in discussions that will […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
Deputy reviewed for other infractions
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | An Orleans Parish Sheriff’s deputy booked last month with simple assault had previously been suspended for allegedly chasing and roughing up a woman in an apparent road-rage incident, records show. Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman suspended Deputy Mark Andry for 10 days in February over the road-rage incident. […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Two Eris Parade arrestees ask for "vague" charges against them to be quashed
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | Two defendants accused of disturbing the peace at an unpermitted parade in the Marigny have filed motions to quash charges against them because they say the state is being too vague about what they did wrong. Ron Morrison, 24, and Jonathan Cromwell, 30, filed the motions to […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics, Investigations
Questions surround DA's decision to drop charges in gun-waving cop's case
Ex-cop Devyn Swanier lost his job but not his liberty. The young man he bullied thinks justice has not been served. Experts are split on the question.