News Release

For Immediate Release – August 7, 1998

 

Contact: James C. Brandt, President & CEO
(504) 525-4152, ext. 12

Despite Decline in Crime Rates, Local Jail is Filling Up

Despite the recent drop in local crime rates, the Orleans Parish Prison population continues its dramatic increase, according to a report released today by the Bureau of Governmental Research (BGR).

"The average number of prisoners housed has gone from 3,515 in 1987 to 6,593 in 1997, which is an increase of 87.6 percent," according to Jim Brandt, President & CEO of BGR. "Based on a continuation of this dramatic increase, Orleans Parish Prison will reach its full capacity (7,082), in the next year and a half," added Brandt.

BGR’s report notes that much of the increase is due to more state and federal prisoners being held in local jails, as well as the stepped-up activity of the New Orleans Police Department. On any given day, approximately half (55 percent) of the prisoners are awaiting trial, while 39 percent are state prisoners sentenced to the Department of Corrections.

According to the report, the continued growth in the local jail population is putting increased pressure on an already strained city budget. Under court order, the City must pay the Criminal Sheriff’s Office $19.65 for each prisoner held awaiting trial. BGR’s report points out that the recently implemented pilot program to reduce the pre-trial stay of prisoners has met with little success thus far.

"Unfortunately, it hasn’t made a dent in the jail population yet. And it looks as though the City will need to come up with another $9 million in its 1998 budget just to meet this year’s anticipated expenses," according to Brandt.

While jail expenses continue to rise, and 200 more officers have been added to the police force, the District Attorney’s office has essentially a standstill budget in 1998. According to the report, expenses will increase less than one percent and revenues by four percent.

"The allocation of funding within the local criminal justice system will likely be one of the hot topics again at the upcoming city budget hearings," stated Brandt. "Both the Criminal Sheriff and District Attorney will likely be seeking larger budgets from the City, while the City will probably suggest (as has BGR), that the State should pay for a larger portion of these offices," added Brandt.

BGR’s report suggests that perhaps the Justice System Funding Commission recently named by Governor Foster will help provide a more comprehensive solution to the financial burden posed by State mandates. The commission is to determine whether local entities are being required to put up too much of the judicial system costs and whether there is a need for additional state funding.

This report is the third in a series, " BGR Outlook on Orleans," launched last year. Valerie Vindici was the principal research analyst for the report. A copy of the report may be obtained at the New Orleans Public Library, by calling the BGR office (525-4152), or by visiting BGR’s web site at www.bgr.org

BGR is a private, nonpartisan, nonprofit citizen-supported research organization founded in 1932 and dedicated to informed public policy-making and the effective use of public resources in the New Orleans metropolitan area. u

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