Who We Are
OPD Statement on Derek Chauvin Verdict
As we heave a collective sigh of relief following the Derek Chauvin verdict, we must remember justice is more than one verdict in one trial. The criminal legal system is not where justice for George Floyd, justice for countless others, justice in this moment, begins or ends. It is simply a stop on a longer, more difficult, more painful journey.
The Lens: New policy says Orleans prosecutors should refuse all low-level drug charges except those for heroin and fentanyl
“When it comes to health and community safety, treating drug possession cases outside of the criminal system is the right thing to do, and what New Orleans has asked for in the most recent election” - Danny Engelberg, OPD Chief of Trials
New policy says Orleans prosecutors should refuse all low-level drug charges except those for heroin and fentanyl
The Orleans Parish District Attorney’s office says it is adopting a policy of refusing all charges for possession of small amounts of drugs — which they define as “an amount that is intended only for personal use” — with the exception of heroin and fentanyl.
That means that while the New Orleans Police Department may continue to arrest individuals for small amounts of drugs, the DA’s office’s policy is not to prosecute them. The office said they had informed the NOPD about the policy, but “wouldn’t be able to speak to any decisions about NOPD’s plans to arrest or not arrest for certain offenses.”
Read the full article from The Lens here.
‘The system is at a breaking point’: New DA, public defenders work to reduce backlog of cases at Criminal District Court
Public defenders in Orleans Parish are hopeful that a new reform-minded district attorney, Jason Williams, will help them come up with innovative ways to address the thousands of open cases that are clogging the dockets at Criminal District Court due to months of COVID-19-related court closures and suspended jury trials — namely, by dismissing nonviolent, low-level cases, or sending defendants into a diversion program, which allows them to complete a court-ordered program in exchange for a later dismissal.
Read the full article at The Lens.
Public Defenders Nationwide Announce Plan for Immigration Justice, Provide Ten-Point Plan to Biden Administration
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 13, 2021
Public Defenders Nationwide Announce Plan for Immigration Justice; Provide Ten-Point Plan to Biden Administration
Public Defenders Urge Federal Government to Take Bold Steps to Reverse and Repair Damage of the Outgoing Administration
SAN FRANCISCO - Today, the Public Defenders’ Coalition for Immigrant Justice, a nationwide coalition of public defender offices, released a 10-point plan for addressing the injustices of the criminal legal system and its pipeline to deportation. The plan urges the Biden administration and the new Democratic majority in Congress to act swiftly and decisively for immigration justice to undo the unjust, harmful, and destructive tactics of the outgoing administration.
Public defenders to stop in-person appearances at Municipal Court due to reported COVID-19 outbreak
The Orleans Public Defenders will cease all in-person appearances at New Orleans Municipal and Traffic court due to what they are calling an “ongoing outbreak of COVID-19” at the court, and after one of their own attorneys who appeared there “almost daily” tested positive.
According to a Monday afternoon press release, the office was informed early last week — prior to the Thanksgiving holiday — that a court staff member had tested positive. Since then, one of their own attorneys also tested positive.
Read the full article at The Lens.
New Orleans City Council Approves Historic Funding for OPD
2021 Budget Approval Puts OPD Funded at 65% of the DA’s Local Funding, Pushing Closer to Equity and Funding Parity in New Orleans
Yesterday, the New Orleans City Council brought the city closer to fairness and equity with the approval of an historic appropriation of $3,400,000 for the Orleans Public Defenders Office (OPD). This amends the proposed $1,626,442 by the Mayor and increases the appropriation to 65% of that allotted to the District Attorney. The budget amendment comes after the City Council unanimously passed the funding parity ordinance in August mandating an 85% parity threshold between OPD and the DA. The ordinance and the adopted appropriation begins to close the resource gap between public defense and prosecution, and level the playing field for people navigating the legal system. The amended appropriation includes the 20% cut proposed along with other city emergency austerity measures due to the unprecedented COVID19 pandemic and fiscal crisis.
