Jail reform coalition member Norris Henderson hands a 2,200-signature petition to Councilwoman Susan Guidry’s chief of staff, Deborah Langhoff, at City Hall this afternoon. Photo by Matt Davis. By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | A reform coalition, calling for a smaller, more accountably budgeted jail, dropped off two copies of a 2,200-signature petition […]
Tag: Marlin Gusman
Posted inCriminal Justice
Weeks after saying the checks were coming, Gusman still hasn't paid deputies for work
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | A month after saying he would do it, Sheriff Marlin Gusman has not paid thousands of dollars to reserve deputies who have been working a security detail at the city’s auto impound lot since May. “I feel like he lied to us,” said a deputy who originally […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Councilwoman blasts Landrieu for not changing the way sheriff gets paid
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | Councilwoman Susan Guidry criticized Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s administration Tuesday for failing to change the way it pays for inmates housed at the city’s jail. Guidry’s displeasure came out as the council continued its review of Landrieu’s proposed 2012 budget. The hearing Tuesday reviewed the budgets of the […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
Landrieu saying little about two no-bid contracts given to Gusman worth $1 million
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | For the second time in a year, Mayor Mitch Landrieu has used an intergovernmental agreement to funnel city money to Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman without seeking bids on the work or showing why Gusman’s services provide the best value to taxpayers. The two contracts likely will […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
Sheriff disses mayoral aide at tense meeting on law enforcement spending priorities
Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman (right) takes on mayoral staffer Katie Dignan at Wednesday’s meeting of the parish law enforcement district. Photo by Matt Davis. 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 […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
Giant billboard targets jail per diems; DOJ to attend public meeting on Tuesday
Reform coalition members Dana Kaplan and Norris Henderson in the shadow of the new billboard, which reads: “Stop jailing people to make money.” Photo by Matt Davis. 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 […]
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 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
Sheriff's Office to be placed under federal consent decree, jail panelist says
Loyola Professor Michael Cowan, shown left at a meeting of the jail working group, says the DOJ is debating terms of a consent decree which would put the Sheriff’s Office under federal oversight. Photo by Matt Davis. By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | The U.S. Department of Justice is in discussions that will […]
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. […]