| Issue 1 - Crime |
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An effective and fair local criminal justice system requires competence and integrity in all agencies, and requires that all agencies interface effectively. This includes the Police Department, the District Attorney's Office, the Office of Public Defender, the Criminal Sheriff, the Clerk of Court, and the Judiciary. Each is indispensable to a healthy criminal justice system. The New Orleans criminal justice system also requires adequate funding and facilities, prioritization of violent crime, and public trust deriving from transparency, accountability, and the engagement of citizens.
To achieve systemic competence and public safety, city officials must implement best practices and be publicly accountable for the outcome. Accordingly, city officials must:
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Leadership Mandates
Ensure adequate funding in regular budget cycles to support infrastructure and operations for all elements of the local justice system, both juvenile and adult. Provide full financial and performance audits on all agencies of the local criminal justice system to the city administration, City Council and the public.
Promptly complete rebuilding, equipping and upgrading of permanent offices to enable law enforcement officials to work more effectively. Implement proven technologies, including integrated information systems and electronic monitoring, to increase efficiency and effectiveness.
Define strategies and prioritize resources to investigate, arrest and prosecute those involved in violent crime.
Incarceration Policies.
Concentrate arrests on those believed to pose a threat to public safety. Reduce the number and length of incarcerations in connection with minor offenses. Use alternate strategies such as summonses, pre-trial diversion, expedited charging, and proven release/supervision practices. Use proven diversionary programs such as drug courts, drug rehab, and mental health treatment. Use neighborhood policing with the training and accountability metrics needed to build public trust.
Build, maintain and staff parish jail facilities to accommodate an appropriately sized population based on the above strategies and practices for combating violent crime.
Emphasize the prevention of adult and juvenile violent crime through improved juvenile justice initiatives consistent with national juvenile justice research and demonstrated best practices.
and Public Disclosure.
Define and publicly disclose strategies, performance metrics, crime statistics and information, and conduct, integrity and efficiency standards to improve effectiveness and restore public confidence in the local criminal justice system.
Create a small, diverse and apolitical committee that will advise and support the Mayor in a national search process for Police Chief. Include representatives from the Crime Coalition on the committee.
Engagement and Civic Support.
Work with and enlist support of civic leaders and organizations engaged in criminal justice initiatives, including: the New Orleans Crime Coalition, the Metropolitan Crime Commission, the Police and Justice Foundation, Baptist Community Ministries, CrimeStoppers, Citizens for 1 Criminal Justice Reform Committee, and CourtWatch NOLA.