PAST RESEARCH PROJECTS AND REPORTS

Prior to the implementation of the Orleans Parish Criminal Justice Accountability Project, the MCC Research Program conducted a variety of studies on several aspects of the criminal justice system. These projects included a post-Katrina community safety survey of residents in the New Orleans Central City neighborhood and criminal justice system performance reports in Orleans and Jefferson Parishes. Reports on judicial practices within Orleans Parish Criminal District Court examined bail bond modifications and disparate judge trial outcomes. Additionally, the MCC conducted a Judicial Watch program from 1996 through 2002 which examined case processing efficiency in the 24th Judicial District (Jefferson Parish) and Orleans Parish Criminal District Court.

The reports presented below represent some of the work conducted by the MCC Research Program prior to 2008.

CRIME & SAFETY IN CENTRAL CITY: A COMMUNITY’S PERSPECTIVE (Jan 2007)

A survey of residents of the New Orleans neighborhood Central City finds citizens fearful of crime and doubtful of the New Orleans Police Department’s ability to reduce criminal activity. Primary resolutions that residents identify to reduce crime include better community-police relations, neighborhood watch programs, more opportunities for area youth to positively apply themselves, and a cleaner community with better street lighting.
Click here to view executive summary
Click here to view full report

PERFORMANCE OF THE NEW ORLEANS CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM 2003-2004 (Aug 2005)

Released immediately prior to Hurricane Katrina, this report analyzes arrests and criminal case outcomes for state offenses in New Orleans.  This is a follow-up report to the one listed below, and it highlights changes in performance from 2000 under different police and prosecution leadership.
Click here to view executive summary
Click here to view full report

ANALYSIS OF THE PROCESSING OF STATE FELONY AND MISDEMEANOR CHARGES IN NEW ORLEANS: ARREST THROUGH BILLING DECISION (Aug 2002)

This report examines the processing of arrest reports by the New Orleans Police Department and the subsequent screening of reports by the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office.  It shows how inefficiencies in case processing have a detrimental impact on the success of criminal cases.  It was followed up by the 2005 report listed above.
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BAIL BOND REDUCTIONS IN ORLEANS CRIMINAL DISTRICT COURT (Mar 2005)

Examines bond reduction practices for state offenses in Orleans Parish.  Finds one judge responsible for a disproportionate number of bonds.
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ANALYSIS OF JUDGE TRIAL OUTCOMES IN ORLEANS PARISH CRIMINAL DISTRICT COURT 1999 – 2003 (Oct 2004)

Presents the disparate outcomes of judge trials for each of the 12 judges of Orleans Parish Criminal District Court.
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ANALYSIS OF THE PROCESSING OF STATE AND FELONY MISDEMEANOR CASES IN JEFFERSON PARISH: ARREST THROUGH BILLING DECISIONS (Nov 2003)

Examines the processing of arrest reports and rates of conviction for different offenses in the 24th judicial district.
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PRETRIAL DECISION MAKING IN THE 24TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (Mar 2003)

Examines release of defendants awaiting trial and the impact of pretrial release decisions.
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THE JUDICIAL WATCH RESEARCH PROGRAM

From 1996 through 2002, the Metropolitan Crime Commission’s Research Program conducted annual assessments of the performance of the judiciary in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court and in the Jefferson Parish 24th Judicial District.  These annual reports evaluated the performance of the courts and individual judges according to recognized case processing standards.  Copies of the most recent Judicial Watch reports are presented below.

FELONY JUSTICE IN JEFFERSON PARISH 24 JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT 2000 (Feb 2002) 
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FELONY JUSTICE IN JEFFERSON PARISH 24TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT 1998 (Jun 1999)
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FELONY JUSTICE IN ORLEANS PARISH CRIMINAL DISTRICT COURT 2000 (Oct 2001)
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FELONY JUSTICE IN ORLEANS PARISH CRIMINAL DISTRICT COURT 1999 (Nov 2000)
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