We are saddened by the recent deaths of our community members in the jail and our thoughts are with their families and communities. Spending just one day in jail is disruptive and traumatizing.
The Orleans Justice Center – as evidenced by federal intervention – has long been unsafe and a danger to the health and well-being of the people in its custody. The safety of our clients who are incarcerated at OJC is paramount, and we support efforts to increase the safety of our clients and everyone working in the Sheriff’s office. At the same time, today’s courthouse shutdown due to a lack of deputies is yet another setback to moving our criminal legal system forward.
The abrupt courthouse closure was not only disruptive to our staff, it was problematic for many of our clients and their families who were scheduled for court proceedings. New Orleanians from across the parish made plans to be in attendance, many taking time off from work, arranging childcare and transportation, only to find out they would not have their day in court. Additionally, technological disparities persist, making attending virtual court virtually impossible – particularly without notice.
We hope Sheriff Hutson is acting with urgency, thoughtfulness, and diligence to resolve the jail’s staffing problems, while maintaining the safety of those in her care. To be sure, we applaud Sheriff Hutson for not treating the recent deaths at OJC as a “cost of doing business.” This recent tragedy highlights the importance of maintaining a small, appropriately staffed jail. After two years of COVID-19 pandemic-induced barriers to justice, it is critical for criminal legal system actors to work together to ensure our courts remain open and safe, while guaranteeing the health and safety of our most vulnerable, incarcerated citizens.
