Letter from the Commissioner
As we approach the end of another year, it is with immense gratitude that I extend my heartfelt holiday greetings to you. The holiday season is a time for reflection, gratitude, and connection with our loved ones. It is also a time to celebrate the spirit of unity and the strength that comes from our collective efforts.
Throughout the year, the Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice Coordination (OCJC) has been dedicated to fostering a safer and more resilient community. Together, we have worked tirelessly to enhance public safety and implement innovative strategies that address the evolving challenges we face. This year we set out to work towards the following goals:
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Allocate and monitor federal and state victim service and criminal and juvenile justice block grants;
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Coordinate full adoption of new cloud-based interagency records synchronization & workflow automation environment;
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Support public safety agencies through interagency coordination and advisement on evidence-based policymaking and best practices within criminal justice system management;
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Maximize use of pre-arrest deflection and diversion programs to promote holistic accountability and reduce recidivism;
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Coordinate with system stakeholders to address the COVID-19 case backlog and resolve case processing delays;
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Support New Orleans Reentry Task Force (NORTF) in conducting new community needs assessment and strategic plan;
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Promote evidence-based and data-driven practices in prevention, intervention, and community transformation;
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In partnership with Total Community Action develop comprehensive plan to advance racial equity through various forms of community engagement and data-driven analysis.
In this 2023 recap addition of our newsletter, I am pleased to share highlights of some of our initiatives and partnerships. Together, we have worked diligently to address our city's challenges and pave the way for a safer and more connected community.
As we celebrate these accomplishments, we also acknowledge that our work is ongoing. The challenges we face require sustained effort, creativity, and the unwavering commitment of our community members. In the coming year, we look forward to building upon these achievements, exploring new avenues for innovation, and continuing to work hand in hand with you to create a safer and more just New Orleans.
On behalf of the staff of Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice Coordination, I wish you a safe, happy, and rejuvenating holiday season. Thank you for your dedication and let us look forward to a new year filled with continued progress and positive impact.
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Led by the Grants Director, the Grants Division is the OCJC team that handles public grant funding, primarily Department of Justice grants, awarded to the City of New Orleans. In 2023, the OCJC administered over $4.5 million in state and federal grant funding.
In December 2023, the Office of Criminal Justice Coordination announced the availability of Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding. This funding is to support the provision of direct services to victims of crime at no cost to victims. Programs must be operated by a public agency, nonprofit organization, or a combination of such agencies. The Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement (LCLE) administers and allocates these funds through the Orleans District. The total amount available to the Orleans District for FY23 is $1,496,874. For information on how to apply, visit our website at nola.gov/ocjc.
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Information sharing and the ability to analyze unified metrics across the Orleans Parish criminal legal system is essential to improving the equitable and efficient administration of justice. In August 2023, The City of New Orleans announced its partnership with Mission Critical Partners (MCP) to overhaul New Orleans’ critically antiquated justice technology systems, which will be supported by a $30 million American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) investment. In close partnership with Office of Information Technology, Chief Administrative Office, and MCP, the OCJC has led critical coordination efforts of the Justice Tech Modernization Project including, but not limited to the following:
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Facilitating community engagement opportunities to ensure that community input, particularly survivors of crime and individuals directly impacted by the criminal legal system perspective and priorities, were captured at the outset of project priorities;
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The Criminal Justice Information Sharing Subcommittee voting to approve a data use agreement between core criminal legal system agencies to share key information;
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Providing subject matter expertise around existing data sets to support the usage of AI technology to improve critical criminal legal system processes;
- Advocating for additional funding for Crime Lab equipment for the DNA Unit, which was included in Senator Cassidy’s community project funding requests.
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In addition to the work of the Criminal Justice Council’s subcommittees, which includes jail population management, information sharing, increasing equity, and coordinating reentry partners, the OCJC has established regular data reports and has supported the creation of the Louisiana Network, which designed to share criminal justice system successes, challenges, and strategies within the state and to identify common policy and legislative actions that safely reduce the overuse and misuse of jails and address racial and ethnic disparities.
View our latest monthly jail population report here!
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The OCJC provides support to multiple programs public safety programs including, but limited to, the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion program and Pretrial Services program.
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Program Spotlight
Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) Program
 This year LEAD launched social media! LEAD is a pre-arrest diversion rooted in harm reduction. LEAD offers a collective reimagining of community safety that breaks the punishment pipeline. Follow @leadneworleans on Instagram to learn more!
Since the drastic decrease in the jail population that corresponded with the COVID-19 pandemic, the OCJC has been monitoring the increase of the jail population and working with partners to continue minimizing the use of over incarceration while improving public safety. To identify strategies to improve the administration of justice and address any challenges at the intersection of the criminal legal system and behavior health, the OCJC conducted a Sequential Intercept Mapping Model, for the following purposes:
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To identify factors within the criminal legal system that are driving the jail population;
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Plot resources and gaps across the criminal legal system;
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Identify local behavioral health services to support diversion from the justice system;
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Introduce community system leaders and staff to evidence-based practices and emerging best practices related to each intercept;
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Enhance relationships across systems and agencies;
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Create a customized, local map and action plan to address identified gaps.
To read the full report click here!
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This OCJC thanks Renée Gill Pratt of Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Louisiana, Inc. and Thelma Harris French of Total Community Action, Inc. for their work as co-chairs of NORTF. Supporting our returning citizens is an essential component of public safety and the OCJC is grateful for the work of NORTF and all of our partners. Stay tuned for an updated New Orleans Reentry Resource Guide in 2024!
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To advance public safety, a crucial element is community engagement. This year, the OCJC was grateful to collaborate with partners on the following initiatives to advance public education on criminal legal system reforms and collaborate with community members to co-design solutions to advance public safety.
New Hope
Crime Survivors Annual Christmas Dinner
 On Friday, December 8, 2023, at the F.H Dunn Educational Building, Laboring Ministry, Desiree Watson, Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Silence is Violence hosted a dinner in memory of the loved ones who lost their lives to violence. Dr. LaTasha Akins, OCJC Crime Victims and Survivor Services Coordinator, spoke at this event in honor of crime victims and stated "We unselfishly give ourselves and often times when we have nothing else to give, we somehow find more and we do it, because of the greater good and hopefully offering a glimmer of hope and improvement for that individuals we are helping. We do this work with passion, love, and determination. Have a safe and Happy holiday season."
LA Network
Safety & Justice Challenge
 On Thursday, November 30, 2023, Safety & Justice Challenge Louisiana Network brought together law enforcement and prosecution leaders from New Orleans and Baton Rouge for a common grounds discussion to discuss all challenges and successful initiatives. The goal of this meeting was to encourage collaboration and learn from each other's success while building stronger relationships with communities, improving engagement with the media, and creating opportunities for better messaging.
Crime Survivors
Resources for Constitute Services
The Office of Criminal Justice Coordination in partnership with Crime Survivors NOLA, hosted a workshop for City Employees engaged in constituent services, which included an overview of the Crime Survivors Guidebook and resource guide. We are extremely grateful for the work of this important group and look forward to continuing to support their mission.
Click here to view the Crime Survivor's Guidebook.
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Public Safety Summit
The Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice Coordination hosts the New Orleans Public Safety Summit
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On April 1st, 2023, The Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice Coordination, Dillard University Center for Racial Justice, and partners hosted the inaugural Public Safety Summit: A Holistic Approach to a Safer New Orleans” at University Medical Center. The Public Safety Summit brought together subject matter experts, criminal legal system practitioners, and community members to address violence and public safety in our community. Panels included topics such as: gun violence and social media, youth advocacy, behavioral health, family safety, law enforcement status, and more. During the panels, community members were able to ask subject matter experts questions and learn more about ways to get engaged in the City’s public safety efforts. The Summit also included a resource fair, hiring opportunities, and public safety technology demonstrations. This event was a great chance for community members to learn about resources in their neighborhood and to build a more resilient community.
The Office of Criminal Justice Coordination thanks the over 150 residents who came to the event and demonstrated their own personal commitment to public safety.
The Office of Criminal Justice Coordination Celebrates
Second Chance Month Professional Clothing & Prom Dress Drive
To celebrate Second Chance Month, a month dedicated to providing opportunities for citizens returning home from incarceration, the Office of Criminal Justice Coordination hosted a professional clothing and prom attire drive. Our office received over 10 boxes, 8 bags, and 10 hangers of professional clothing, shoes, and accessories. The OCJC thanks all of the City employees who donated and Operation Restoration for its work supporting women and girls impacted by incarceration.
Also during the month of April, the gown and attire drive for youth in need of attire for prom. The OCJC thanks the city employees, community members, employees at Southern University of New Orleans, and especially the Krewe of Themis who contributed over 200 gowns. The gowns received were donated to Carver High School, Saints Mary’s Academy, Boys Town, the Juvenile Justice Intervention Center, and other youth-serving organizations.
The Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice Coordination is grateful to our partners at Total Community Action for leading the Racial Equity Cohort Initiative, the goal being the development of a community-designed blueprint to advance racial justice and reimagining criminal legal system reform. The planning and implementation process will engage a diverse cohort of community-based organizations and community leaders to gather direct input to create and implement action strategies to advance racial equity within the Orleans Parish criminal legal system. Regarding this opportunity, President and CEO Thelma H. French said, “TCA welcomes this unique opportunity to collaborate with the City of New Orleans and the Safety and Justice Challenge to convene, connect, and mobilize our community in addressing the racial and ethnic disparities in our local criminal justice system.”
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In 2023, the OCJC welcomed the following staff to the OCJC team:
Danyelle joined the OCJC team as a Special Assistant in April 2023. As Special Assistant, her duties include providing administrative support to the Criminal Justice Commissioner and the staff; performing research and preparing briefings and presentations; supporting staff in preparing and holding meetings with key stakeholders; preparing and managing contracts and invoicing; developing, managing, and implementing clear and appropriate work plans and timelines for special projects as requested by the Commissioner; managing, overseeing, and procuring all office equipment, furnishings, and supplies necessary for the team to function and managing the office’s website and social media presence. Before working at OCJC she worked at Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans in various roles. Danyelle graduated from Southern University at New Orleans with a degree in Computer Information Systems. Danyelle loves to spend time with family and friends as well as travel and make memories with her kids Dylan and Saige.
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Dr. LaTasha Atkins joined The Office of Criminal Justice Coordination in June of 2023, as a Crime Victims and Survivor Services Coordinator. Her role is to provide support and ensure effectiveness and coordination victim and survivor services, connecting stakeholders, and leveraging resources to support the system that serves victims and survivors in our community. Dr. LaTasha Atkins, a native New Orleanian, proudly educated in the local public school system and collegiate system; ULM, SUNO and Tulane University. She is excited about undertaking the role of Crime Victims and Survivors Coordinator. Prior to joining The Office of Criminal Justice Coordination, Dr. Atkins had the pleasure of servicing both victims and witnesses of crime for 12 years at the New Orleans District Attorney's Office; under the leadership of the Honorable Judge Leon Cannizzaro. She is committed to helping individuals who have suffered and who are suffering from the effects of traumatic events. Dr. Atkins stated, “I'm humbly honored to provide assistance with seeking resources, helping these individuals gain and maintain a sense of normalcy within their lives.”
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Winter Newman
Winter joined the OCJC team in April 2023, as a Vista outreach and communications coordinator, her role includes generating awareness and interest in the OCJC organization through a wide range of communication and outreach outlets such as the OCJC website, monthly news articles, presentations, telecommunications and online events. Winter is a New Orleans native, she attended McDonogh 35 Senior High School and received her undergraduate degree in criminology from Louisiana State University in 2023. She loves spending time with her family and going shopping. Every day Winter serves the community with a positive perspective and to make a difference. Winter’s favorite quote is “My ultimate goal is to be better than yesterday” by T. F. Hodges.
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US police departments struggle with critical staffing shortages | CNN
While we are experiencing a shortage of law enforcement officers both locally and across the nation, law enforcement is not the only occupation that is facing severe shortages. Occupations such as teaching, nursing, military personnel, and many more occupations are experiencing skilled labor shortages as well. Click the link above to learn more!
Rise in Gun Sells and Gun Related Death During and Post Covid-19 2020
Gun violence is both a national and local problem that has been exacerbated by COVID-19. During the COVID -19 pandemic, gun sales skyrocketed. Worldwide, the U.S. rate of gun ownership is unique as there are about 120 civilian-owned guns for every 100 residents here, which is nearly 10 times the average rate of gun ownership among countries with more than 1 million residents. Click the link above to learn more!
If you would like more information about these events or other OCJC initiatives reach out to us at ocjc@nola.gov or
(504) 658-4040!
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