orleans parish prison

For many of us, April has been a very challenging month. Looking back from today, this country has seen a resurgence of fear, violence and racism. [...Read more]

Judge Lance Africk is hearing arguments in United States District Court this week regarding a consent decree designed to correct the violent, inhumane, life-threatening conditions at the Orleans Parish Prison (OPP), a jail that an expert witness from a nonprofit criminal justice research and training firm described as the “worst jail I've ever seen.” The parties involved in the court action include [...Read more]

In a letter to the editors of the Times-Picayune this month, New Orleans resident Mona Castillo wrote that the key to decreasing crime is to make prison "less comfortable."  She wrote, "At the present time, jails are more like hotels.  Many prisoners live better there than they did on the outside." [...Read more]

Crossposted from Justice Roars.  This profile comes from VOTE (Voice Of The Ex-offender) in New Orleans. Eugene Dean has been with VOTE from the very beginning, when the organization sprang from an effort of incarcerated men within Ango [...Read more]

On November 29th, a coalition of over 30 local organizations delivered a petition with more than 2,200 signatures to Mayor Mitch Landrieu, calling for reform of Orleans Parish Prison.  Specifically, the petition demanded that the Mayor formally commit to capping the size of the new facility being built by the Sheriff’s Office at 1,438 beds, and that the City Council end the “per diem” budget system [...Read more]

Community Condemns Intimidation of Community Leaders During Prayer Vigil.  Demand to Gusman: Guarantee Sheriff’s officers will not retaliate against Day Laborers Exercising their First Amendment Rights.  Crossposted [...Read more]

By Matt Davis, crossposted from The Lens   - The New Orleans City Council voted unanimously [yesterday] afternoon in support of an ordinance granting permission for Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman to build a 1,438-bed jail.&nb [...Read more]

A struggle over the size of New Orleans’ jail could define the city’s future [...Read more]