NEW ORLEANS – Katie M. Schwartzmann, Co-Director of the Roderick and Solange MacArthur Justice Center in New Orleans, released the following statement in reaction to the resignation of Carmen I. DeSadier as chief of corrections for the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office:
When we filed this lawsuit, it was clear that there was a need at the Orleans Parish Prison for leadership with corrections experience. When we negotiated the consent judgment with the Sheriff, one of the very important provisions that we insisted upon was that he hire a full-time corrections professional with experience running a jail.
The Sheriff has now gone through two chiefs of corrections. These were individuals who came from the outside to assist OPSO with moving forward. But both have now quit. This is yet another indication that things continue to fall apart at OPP.
Violence remains extremely high. There is a lack of staff. The Sheriff just closed 500 beds at the Temporary Detention Center because he can't safely run the facility. And now there is no corrections chief at the helm.
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