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BREAKING: New Orleans Commits to Equity with First Parity Budget for Public Defense

: News; 28 October 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 28, 2021

MAYOR LATOYA CANTRELL PROPOSES HISTORIC BUDGET ESTABLISHING FUNDING PARITY FOR ORLEANS PUBLIC DEFENDERS
2022 Budget Fully Enacts Funding Parity Ordinance of 2021; New Orleans Now Leader in Equity, Fairness in Criminal Legal System

New Orleans, LA – Yesterday, Mayor LaToya Cantrell sought to maintain New Orleans as a national leader in criminal legal system reform by establishing funding parity between the Orleans Public Defenders Office (OPD) and the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office in her proposed 2022 city budget. The Mayor proposed an historic appropriation of $5,960,195, calling it a “priority and critical initiative.” The appropriation follows the Funding Parity for Public Defense Ordinance unanimously approved last year by the New Orleans City Council. The ordinance mandates 85% of the city budget appropriation allocated to the District Attorney be given to OPD. By reducing the funding gap between public defense and prosecution, the parity appropriation increases OPD’s ability to ethically, professionally, and constitutionally represent the almost 20,000 cases appointed each year. It begins to level the playing field for the disproportionately low-income, Black and Brown people navigating the justice system.

The Lens: Orleans sheriff’s office criticized for allowing ‘gritty reality series’ to film inside jail

: News; 27 September 2021

Civil rights attorneys representing people incarcerated in the New Orleans jail say that they were misled by the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office regarding a Netflix reality show that was filmed at the facility and is set to air later this month.

The attorneys, who are part of a longstanding federal consent decree — meant to improve conditions at the jail and bring it into compliance with the U.S. Constitution — claim Sheriff Marlin Gusman’s office twice informed them that the show had been “shut down and terminated” after they raised concerns about it last year.

But the show, “Jailbirds: New Orleans,” which features female detainees incarcerated in the Orleans Justice Center, is set to come out on Sept. 24.

Joint Statement on Netflix Series Jailbirds

: News; 27 September 2021

Netflix recently released the trailer for the new season of Jailbirds, set in the Orleans Justice Center.

Together with The Promise of Justice Initiative, Orleans Parish Prison Reform Coalition and Voice of the Experienced, we released the following statement.

The Lens: After Ida, New Orleans Criminal Justice System Faces New Challenges

: News; 22 September 2021

With thousands of criminal cases already backlogged due to COVID-related court delays and jury trials put on hold for over a year, the criminal justice system in New Orleans now faces a whole new set of challenges and uncertainties after Hurricane Ida devastated the city on Sunday — including tearing off portions of the roof of Municipal and Traffic Court.

Meanwhile, conditions at a number of local jails in parishes that were severely impacted by the storm remain a question.

Prior to Ida’s arrival on Sunday afternoon, around 2,500 people incarcerated at local jails in the way of the storm were transferred to state prisons and other jails throughout the state. Among them were hundreds of detainees awaiting trial in New Orleans, nearly all of whom were transferred several hours away to the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola.

Hurricane Ida Relief and Client Support

: News; 07 September 2021

photo: WDSU

Hurricane Ida made landfall on the Louisiana coast last week on August 29 as a catastrophic Category 4 hurricane. The destruction, flooding, and power outages have been widespread and severe.

Hurricane Ida's destruction has exponentially increased the needs for many of our clients and community. Food, water, gas and basic necessities are extremely limited and even more difficult to obtain. Families already reeling from the impacts of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic have experienced another devastating hurdle.

For the next few weeks, we are directing our Client Welfare Fund to disaster relief and support the immediate needs of our clients. Donations will go to food, water, gas and critical supplies for our clients as they navigate the difficult post-disaster landscape, begin rebuilding and pick up the pieces left by Ida.

While disasters like Hurricanes Ida and Katrina wreaked havoc on New Orleans and the surrounding communities, they also showed the immense power of community and mutual aid. People have already come together to support their neighbors. We hope to do the same.

Donations can be made directly through our Client Welfare Fund. Please indicate "Hurricane Ida" in the note.

The support of our community, near and far, is immense and we are extraordinarily grateful.

Hurricane Ida Closures + Emergency Hotline

: News; 07 September 2021

Hurricane Ida forced the closure of OPD offices, as well as all Orleans Parish courts.

The Louisiana Supreme Court issued emergency suspension to case time limitations. Orleans Parish Criminal District Court announced closures through September 19, 2021. OPD is working with Magistrate Court for emergency bond hearings in the meantime.

The Municipal and Traffic Court building suffered severe damage from the storm. Reopening and court proceedings have yet to be announced. As power is reestablished and damage assessed, updates to court openings can be found at www.criminalcourt.org.

In the meantime, we have created an emergency hotline for questions regarding case statuses, where loved ones are located, and what's to come in the next weeks. The hotline is staffed from 9am - 5pm each day for the next week. Anyone can call 702-670-1193.

OPD reopening announcements will be posted on the website and social media in the coming week.