The Latest: Inmate advocate decries transfer of inmates
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Latest on the New Orleans sheriff's plan to reduce violence at the jail he runs by shipping inmates to other jurisdictions. (all times local):
11:30 a.m.
A lawyer representing New Orleans inmates says the sheriff's plan to move hundreds of inmates to other jurisdictions could have a devastating effect on the city's criminal justice system.
Sheriff Marlin Gusman's lawyers filed court papers late Tuesday revealing plans to move about 600 inmates. The filing says reducing the jail population will give him time to increase and better train his staff.
Gusman is facing a possible court order turning jail operations over to a third party because he has been unable to quell violence at the lockup.
Attorney Katie Schwartzmann said in an email Wednesday that transferring inmates to a jail hours away from New Orleans hinders their access to their lawyers and the courts.
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9 a.m.
The sheriff who runs New Orleans' troubled jail says he's moving hundreds of inmates to other jurisdictions.
The move to reduce the jail's population by more than half comes as Sheriff Marlin Gusman seeks to avoid a possible court-order that could strip him of his power to run the lockup.
Gusman's move of about 600 inmates comes as court-appointed monitors say violence at the jail continues, despite a move to modern new facilities last year.
In court documents filed late Tuesday, Gusman's lawyers say reducing the jail population will give him time to better train his staff.
Last week, lawyers for the Justice Department and inmates asked a court to appoint a third party to operate the jail, saying Gusman has for years failed to improve conditions.
