New Orleans In-Justice System
prisoner support
The link below is to a blog which contains summaries that detail complaints corroborated by unrelated individuals who were all subjected to unacceptable conditions in Orleans Parish Prison. One cannot brush aside such a large collection of similar testimonies of civil and human rights violations from such a diverse group—people completely unrelated to each other. Despite Sheriff Gusman's assertions that everyone reporting violations and problems are “crackheads, cowards and criminals” the volume and consistency of these statements must be believed. Many of the people reporting these issues where arrested and incarcerated for days for minor violations, where a citation would have sufficed, and been more economical for the city.
Throughout the testimonies you will find complaints of these human rights violations:
--No access to counsel
--Astronomical overcrowding
--Unsanitary and health-hazardous conditions
--Lack of proper food and water
--Physical and verbal abuse at the hands of both NOPD and Sheriff Office Employees
--False charges, especially public intoxication and trespassing charges.
It is time this city take responsibility for respecting the civil and human rights of its residents, even those who are incarcerated. Hold the Sheriff's Office accountable for conditions and treatment. Keep the city’s money for the rebuilding of homes, schools and hospitals. Now is not the time to build prisons for your citizens, now is the time to build their lives.