As negotiations stall over a consent decree to improve conditions at the Orleans Parish jail, construction continues on the nearly complete kitchen and warehouse facility (left). The Templeman V facility (foreground) is the scene of many episodes of brutality. Photo by Tom Gogola. U.S. District Judge Lance Africk has scheduled a Tuesday morning meeting between […]
Tag: Orleans Parish jail consent decree
Posted inCriminal Justice
City Hall still using controversial per-diem approach to jail budget
The controversial “per diem” budget for the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office is alive and well, despite assurances by top city officials that they would come up with a better approach to financing the city jail ahead of the 2013 budgeting season. Released Monday, the mayor’s budget proposal includes $22,434,338 for the sheriff, a cut of […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Investigations
City wary of opening its coffers, leaving jail reforms at an impasse
The city’s reluctance to provide Sheriff Marlin Gusman with a financial bailout continues to stymie movement toward reforming Orleans Parish Prison under terms of a federal consent decree — despite fresh reports of violence and unconstitutional conditions at Gusman’s sprawling jail complex. At the heart of the impasse: The Landrieu administration refuses to give Gusman […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
Judge makes city a defendant with sheriff in federal lawsuit
A federal judge made the city of New Orleans a defendant today in a lawsuit that seeks to force Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman to bring his jails into compliance with the U.S. Constitution. In court papers filed this morning in U.S. District Court, attorneys for Gusman said he was “making this claim against [the city] […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Sheriff asking to make the city a co-defendant in prison lawsuit
Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman is trying to spread anticipated financial pain at his jail complex to Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s administration. Gusman’s attorneys filed papers Friday with U.S. District Judge Lance Africk seeking to include the city as a third-party defendant in an ongoing lawsuit alleging that Gusman has been running an unconstitutional, unsafe jail […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Feds allowed to join lawsuit against OPP; agreement expected
An empty guard tower stands over part of Old Parish Prison, part of the prison-jail complex. Photo by Tom Gogola A federal judge today allowed the U.S. Department of Justice to join a lawsuit against Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman, a necessary step toward a likely consent decree that will govern reforms at the sheriff’s […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
Is mayor's office dragging its feet over jailhouse consent decree?
As Hurricane Isaac was making its way across the Gulf of Mexico two weeks ago, Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman was meeting in New Orleans with officials from the U.S. Department of Justice to work on a long anticipated consent decree to remedy unconstitutional conditions at the city jail complex. But Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s administration […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
NOPD has federal oversight; sheriff next? Holder won't say
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder offered a curiously nonresponsive answer to the question that was on many people’s mind Tuesday afternoon: Now that the New Orleans Police Department’s consent decree with the federal government has been finalized, is the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office next? Holder was joined by city officials, federal agents and police brass […]
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 inGovernment & Politics
Judge approves pact requiring city, School Board improve juvenile hall
A federal judge gave final approval Friday to two agreements for broad reform at the New Orleans juvenile detention center. Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle’s approval of the consent decrees legally obligates the city and Orleans Parish School Board to improve conditions and increase educational resources at the jail-like facility, a holding center for juvenile offenders […]