DA Williams Leads Effort To Improve Existing Court-Ordered Electronic Monitoring Through 5 Point Plan For Increased Supervision, Mandatory Revocation Protocols

1. Uniform, public electronic monitoring program rules that all courts must follow when a judge orders electronic monitoring;
2. Uniformed permitting to operate an electronic monitoring program in Orleans Parish;
3. Expanded and mandatory regular reporting to include impacted public safety agencies like the DA’s Office and NOPD;
4. Explicit protocols for eligibility and revocation violations; and
5. Real-time monitoring option with active alerts.

“Electronic monitoring has turned into a crisis situation in New Orleans. There is very little monitoring happening after judges order defendants released on an ankle monitor, over our objections. There is a lack of serious supervision and oversight and something must be done to change that. My office, along with my criminal legal system partners, is running on all cylinders and we need electronic monitors, when ordered by the court, to be a solution not a hurdle to our work. The current court-ordered program does not mandate the sharing of compliance reports with the NOPD or the DA’s Office. It should,” said District Attorney Jason Williams. “Whether it is the incredibly sad case of culture bearer Ms. Portia Pollock, where her murderer was supposed to be wearing an ankle monitor or the case of Devin Jordan, who was impersonating a police officer while he was supposed to be on an ankle monitor, it’s painfully clear these systems are not working as intended. We need full transparency, additional supports and supervision to ensure that electronic monitoring is being used with fidelity and in a way that supports the efforts of all criminal legal system stakeholders or these defendants should remain in custody.”

Victim Portia Pollock case: NOLA.com – NOPD obtains warrant to arrest suspected killer of 7th Ward physical therapist Portia Pollock

Defendant Devin Jordan case: NOLA.com – Man accused of impersonating New Orleans police officer was supposed to be on ankle monitor

As part of the call for improved protocols and supervision, DA Williams is pulling on support from the New Orleans City Council, NOPD and other City leadership to ensure that real plans are developed for operating electronic monitoring programs. The DA and Council Criminal Justice Committee vowed to reconvene in short order to discuss the DA’s 5-point plan and secure buy-in from each public safety actor.

To learn more about the work of OPDA, please visit orleansda.com.

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1. Uniform, public electronic monitoring program rules that all courts must follow when a judge orders electronic monitoring;
2. Uniformed permitting to operate an electronic monitoring program in Orleans Parish;
3. Expanded and mandatory regular reporting to include impacted public safety agencies like the DA’s Office and NOPD;
4. Explicit protocols for eligibility and revocation violations; and
5. Real-time monitoring option with active alerts.

“Electronic monitoring has turned into a crisis situation in New Orleans. There is very little monitoring happening after judges order defendants released on an ankle monitor, over our objections. There is a lack of serious supervision and oversight and something must be done to change that. My office, along with my criminal legal system partners, is running on all cylinders and we need electronic monitors, when ordered by the court, to be a solution not a hurdle to our work. The current court-ordered program does not mandate the sharing of compliance reports with the NOPD or the DA’s Office. It should,” said District Attorney Jason Williams. “Whether it is the incredibly sad case of culture bearer Ms. Portia Pollock, where her murderer was supposed to be wearing an ankle monitor or the case of Devin Jordan, who was impersonating a police officer while he was supposed to be on an ankle monitor, it’s painfully clear these systems are not working as intended. We need full transparency, additional supports and supervision to ensure that electronic monitoring is being used with fidelity and in a way that supports the efforts of all criminal legal system stakeholders or these defendants should remain in custody.”

Victim Portia Pollock case: NOLA.com – NOPD obtains warrant to arrest suspected killer of 7th Ward physical therapist Portia Pollock

Defendant Devin Jordan case: NOLA.com – Man accused of impersonating New Orleans police officer was supposed to be on ankle monitor

As part of the call for improved protocols and supervision, DA Williams is pulling on support from the New Orleans City Council, NOPD and other City leadership to ensure that real plans are developed for operating electronic monitoring programs. The DA and Council Criminal Justice Committee vowed to reconvene in short order to discuss the DA’s 5-point plan and secure buy-in from each public safety actor.

To learn more about the work of OPDA, please visit orleansda.com.

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