jail expansion

Jail construction manager lacked license, gave money

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.

By Matt Davis February 1, 2011

Mayor's group made jail recommendation based on bad property info from Sheriff

Marlin Gusman appears to have misled the public about the ownership of a key property that is part of his planned jail complex.

By Matt Davis January 25, 2011 3 comments

Jail advisers to put off key decision until April

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.

By Matt Davis January 14, 2011 1 comment

Gusman relied on experience in pushing case for bigger 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.

By Matt Davis January 10, 2011 5 comments

Recommendation for new jail came from non-member

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.

By Matt Davis December 22, 2010

NOPD can now write tickets for simple pot possession

The City Council voted unanimously this morning to approve four ordinances aimed at reducing the number of people arrested for minor crimes.

By Matt Davis December 16, 2010 7 comments

Mayor backs jail expansion based on incomplete study

A working group established by Mayor Mitch Landrieu did not meet its obligation to make a recommendation about the size of the city’s jail by Nov. 22.

By Matt Davis December 14, 2010 1 comment

Landrieu supports bigger jail, says size is “moving target”

Mayor Mitch Landrieu said today the total number of beds in a new jail is still up for debate, despite a firm recommendation for a specific size from a working group run by his chief aide.

By Matt Davis December 10, 2010 5 comments

Despite recommendation by mayor’s group, Gusman wants to double jail size to 3,200

Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman has changed his position on work done by Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s Criminal Justice Working Group, saying he needs 1,800 more beds than the 1,438-bed facility recommended by the group.

By Matt Davis December 9, 2010 2 comments

City Council may downgrade pot possession, other charges

The City Council is set to ease the punishment for some misdemeanors in an effort to unclog the city’s jails and courts.

By Matt Davis December 2, 2010 7 comments