Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman overruled his chief deputy three years ago to award a $23 million construction-management contract for his new jail complex to a company the deputy rated lower.
In August 2007, after City Councilmember Oliver Thomas resigned and admitted to taking bribes, his attorney was asked about the possibility of Thomas providing helpful testimony to Federal prosecutors. Shepherd ultimately confessed, and assumed total responsibility, but
Marlin Gusman appears to have misled the public about the ownership of a key property that is part of his planned jail complex.
Having not met for almost two months, Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s Criminal Justice Working Group will now need at least three more months before making a final recommendation on the total capacity of a new city jail.
Sheriff Marlin Gusman has no hard evidence to back his recent claim that New Orleans needs a jail that would hold 3,200 people, even after an expert hired by the city said a 1,500-bed jail would be sufficient.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana wants Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman to justify his recent claim that a new city jail needs 3,200 beds, after a consultant hired by the city said city could easily make do with a 1,500-bed jail.
A resolution supporting a new jail was proposed by someone who was not even a member of Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s advisory group on the matter.
The City Council voted unanimously this morning to approve four ordinances aimed at reducing the number of people arrested for minor crimes.
