The Civil Rights Division of the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office, established by District Attorney Williams, aims to address past injustices, promote transparency and accountability within the criminal justice system, and hold accountable those who misuse legal, economic, or political power to exploit vulnerable communities.

Addressing Past Injustices:

The Conviction and Sentence Review Unit spearheads efforts to rectify wrongful convictions and excessively harsh sentences. Conviction reviews focus on identifying cases where new evidence indicates factual innocence, or where past misconduct by prosecutors or law enforcement, as well as racially discriminatory practices or laws, contributed to unjust convictions. Sentence reviews target extreme sentences that no longer serve valid penal objectives, including cases involving the racially disparate application of habitual offender sentencing enhancements, lengthy sentences for juveniles tried as adults, and severe sentences for non-violent acts or offenses categorized as violent but without actual harm to others. Additionally, the division supports cold case homicide investigations to seek justice for unresolved cases.

Enhancing Transparency and Accountability:

The Law Enforcement Accountability Team works to ensure accountability by tracking, investigating, and reporting past or present misconduct by law enforcement officials, pursuing disciplinary or criminal consequences when appropriate. Meanwhile, the Vulnerable Communities Team engages in consistent outreach with marginalized groups—including LGBTQ+ and migrant communities—to investigate abuses of power and secure accountability when exploitation is identified. The team also collaborates with local and state officials to advocate for policies and legislation enabling the prosecution of employers or business owners who take advantage of economically disadvantaged communities.