By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | A state body that approves millions of dollars in criminal justice grants to local agencies, including those in Orleans Parish, failed to post its agenda 24 hours in advance of Thursday’s meeting, a violation of the state open-meetings law. Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s criminal justice czar James Carter […]
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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. Civil rights attorney Mary Howell, her colleague Elizabeth Cumming, […]
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 […]
Posted inOpinion
Recent London riots insult the memory of Katrina's greater toll
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | After plenty of research, reporting and countless conversations on the riots in England, it is my considered opinion as a native Englishman with dual U.S. citizenship, that sometimes, weird things just happen, and that the riots in England were just that: weird. I arrived back in Blighty […]
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, 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
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | The U.S. Department of Justice is in discussions that will place the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office under federal supervision, Loyola Professor Michael Cowan said Monday. “It’s my understanding that the Department of Justice has been in negotiations with the sheriff’s office and that it is likely that […]
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. […]
