By Kira Akerman, The Lens contributing opinion writer | “The system was never broken it was built this way,” read the hand-painted sign held by a woman in New York City’s Occupy Wall Street protest. The woman was not on Wall Street itself; she was crossing the Brooklyn Bridge in what became one of the […]
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Posted inCriminal Justice
Group studying New Orleans jail size may consider adding 1,000 beds to complex
Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s jail working group will meet again in October, and it could recommend another 1,000 jail beds on top of the 1,438 that the City Council has already given Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman the go-ahead to build. The group will convene Oct. 19, the first time in 12 weeks. The administration said […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
Sheriff disses mayoral aide at tense meeting on law enforcement spending priorities
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 not tapping millions available through the district for capital improvements to the city’s criminal justice infrastructure. At Wednesday’s follow-up meeting, where the administration proffered a […]
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 inGovernment & Politics
Cab companies spending millions on gray market for sought-after certificates
An underground market in city-issued cab permits has seen more than $8 million change hands since 2009 with barely any revenue going to the city.
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
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
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 aims to encourage the department to finally take legal action against Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman over jail conditions. Department of Justice attorney Regina Jansen has accepted […]
