A public defender sued for crime camera location records after the city claimed they were too sensitive for public release.
Tag: City surveillance system
Posted inGovernment & Politics
City won’t release real-time surveillance footage to the public, possibly violating state law
Aware that camera footage could be abused, the city developed a policy that shields most video from release. But that policy appears to go against state sunshine laws.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Police found surveillance cameras with NOPD logos mounted to a Lakeview light pole. They weren’t the city’s. But they were near a house connected to a city crime-camera contractor.
Active Solutions COO Jeff Burkhardt denied that he purchased or owned the cameras, calling a reporter’s questions “fake news.” Less than 24 hours after The Lens called him, the cameras were gone.
Posted inCriminal Justice
A year later, progress continues on Cantrell program to ID ‘high-risk’ residents, but few details available
Civil rights activists say they’re concerned over lack of transparency and a potential return to ‘predictive policing’ methods.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Court orders city to hand over records on surveillance network
Judge rejects argument that cameras are used for terrorism prevention.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Public defender sues city for records on surveillance camera locations
CIty denied a public records request from the defense attorney last summer, claiming it would reveal sensitive information related to terrorism prevention. But civil rights groups representing her say the cameras are, in fact, normally used for routine law enforcement and criminal prosecution.
Posted inCriminal Justice
‘Holy cow’: the powerful software behind the city’s surveillance system
Software package can track movement and identify objects and people. The suite also includes “predictive policing” software, but officials say the city isn’t using it.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
June drug bust shows potential pitfalls of citywide surveillance system, defense attorneys say
Surveillance of a drug suspect may have violated his civil rights, his lawyer tells The Lens. Police report claims an undercover officer was on the scene, but that’s not clear.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Months after end of ‘predictive policing’ contract, Cantrell administration works on new tool to ID ‘high-risk’ residents
The researcher whose work was used in NOLA for Life, Chicago “heat list” is involved in developing the new program for Cantrell’s violence reduction task force. Task force members hope the list will be used to direct residents to social services, not police.
Posted inCriminal Justice
City Council considers $100,000 for new crime cameras in Gentilly
The budget committee advanced a proposal to fund eight new cameras through the Gentilly Development District. The cameras would be linked to the city’s surveillance hub.