Federal judge says expansion of Orleans jail must move forward
The City of New Orleans argued a new jail building was too costly and unnecessary. Share Updated: 6:29 PM CST Jan 26, 2021
The City of New Orleans argued a new jail building was too costly and unnecessary. Share Updated: 6:29 PM CST Jan 26, 2021
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Show Transcript SULA: WE WILL CHECK IN LATER. A LOCAL ACTIVIST GROUP WANTS THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS TO APPEAL A JUDGE’S ORDER TO EXPAND THE ORLEANS JUSTICE CENTER JAIL, PLANS FOR THE EXPANSION WERE IN THE WORKS FOR YEARS, BUT LAS YEAR THE CITY ASKED THE JUDGE TO SCRAP THEM, U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE LANCE AFRICK WROTE IN HIS RULING THE PROPOSED NEW BUILDING IS PART OF THE AGREED-ON PLAN TO COMPLY WITH THE JAIL’S OBLIGATIONS IN A FEDERAL CONSENT DECREE. THE NEW BUILDING IS SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE A BETTER ENVIRONMENT FOR INMATES WITH MENTAL ILLNESSE CITY ATTORNEY SUNNI LABEOUF NOW CLAIMS THE CITY’S COVID-RELATED FINANCIAL HIT MEAN
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The New Orleans City Council passed two key criminal justice reform measures Thursday.
One measure, which was approved on a 6-1 vote, bans the New Orleans Police Department’s use of four controversial surveillance technologies facial recognition programs, characteristics tracking systems, StingRay cellular phone surveillance devices and predictive policing software.
The other measure is an ordinance that would, in the interest of slowing the spread of COVID-19 to inmates and staff in the local jails, require police officers to issue summonses for low-level violations instead of arresting the offenders.
“I am absolutely pleased that the summons ordinance was passed,” Sade Dumas, executive director of the Orleans Parish Prison Reform Coalition (OPPRC) said. “I wish it would’ve happened earlier in the pandemic, but I’m happy that the city council decided to put the needs of residents’ well being and safety before fear.”