RESTORATIVE RESULTS FOR NEW ORLEANS

Across various departments, numerous achievements highlight the progress made under Sheriff Hutson's leadership



Sheriff Hutson has focused on addressing the challenges facing OPSO. She has focused on Reform and Rehabilitation, Community Engagement and Collaboration, Transparency and Accountability, 

and Staff Support and Development.

Sheriff Susan Hutson's leadership has brought significant changes to OPSO, marked by a focus on reform, community engagement, and transparency.

While challenges remain, her commitment to transformative justice and collaborative problem-solving offers hope for a more equitable and effective criminal justice system in Orleans Parish.

TOP ACCOMPLISHMENTS & INITIATIVES

  • Administration

    • Implementation of the Office of Community Safety to enhance community well-being.
    • Development of preventative maintenance programs to improve living and working conditions within OPSO facilities.
    • Alignment of departmental processes with the overall goals and vision of OPSO.

  • Community Safety

    • Streamlined communication with the community through a dedicated email address.
    • Provision of essential resources to the community, including tents, barricades, and reserve deputies.
    • Restructuring of the Reserve Division, including the implementation of specialized committees and a recognition program.
    • Collaborating with the NOPD and NORD Commission to introduce the DARE curriculum into summer camps, fostering positive relationships between law enforcement and youth.

  • Corrections

    • Enhanced contraband interdiction efforts resulting in a reduction of weapons and drugs within the jail.
    • Improved communication and collaboration with the Louisiana Department of Corrections, leading to increased transfers of sentenced inmates and assistance in managing inmates with behavioral problems.
    • Partnerships with organizations like Sister Hearts Decarceration Program and Goodwill Industries to help inmates secure employment and housing upon release.
    • Securing significant grant funding, including $3.9 million in federal appropriations, to support community organizations working on re-entry and family reunification initiatives.

  • Field Operations

    • Acquisition of new vehicles to support various bureaus operating within the city.
    • Creation of a Domestic Violence Unit resulting in a significant increase in the number of temporary restraining orders served and firearms seized in domestic violence cases.
    • Coordination and recruitment of partnering law enforcement agencies for Mardi Gras parade route security.

  • Fiscal Responsibility

    • While advocating for increased budgetary allocations to meet the growing demands of the jail, OPSO has also implemented measures to enhance financial transparency and streamline purchasing processes.
    • Internal investigations have uncovered financial misconduct by former employees, leading to arrests and highlighting the administration's commitment to rooting out unethical behavior.

  • Human Resources

    • Restructuring of the HR department to improve efficiency and support for employees.
    • Enhanced response times to employee relations issues.
    • Implementation of a standardized pay scale and pay structure.

  • Information Technology

    • Secured $4.3 million in funding to upgrade OPSO's Enterprise Architecture, including new Jail Management and Case Management Systems.
    • Acquisition of a new telecommunications vendor to improve services like video visitation, grievances, and commissary.
    • Development of AI-based report writing software (OP-SHIELD) to improve efficiency in creating incident reports.
    •  Securing funding for a new Jail Management System, Case Management System, and other technological improvements to enhance operational efficiency. 
    • Transitioning from a paper-based detail system to a new software platform to streamline processes and improve data management. 
    • Developing software to streamline timekeeping for OPSO employees and partnering agencies during Mardi Gras, demonstrating a commitment to efficient resource management.

  • Jail Conditions

    • Dedicated efforts to improve conditions at the Orleans Justice Center, focusing on sanitation, security, mental health services, and compliance with the federal consent decree.
    • Implementing a comprehensive preventative maintenance program for OPSO facilities to ensure appropriate living and working conditions.

  • Legal

    • Implementation of a public-facing platform for Public Records Requests, increasing compliance with Louisiana law.
    • Improved response times to grievance requests, ensuring compliance with the Consent Judgment and Stipulated Order.
    • Efficient management of real estate transactions, generating revenue for OPSO.

  • Staff Support & Development

    • Prioritized staff well-being by securing two salary increases, addressing mental health concerns,  enhancing professional development opportunities, graduating multiple POST Academy classes and achieving a national accreditation recommendation of our training academy.
    • Emphasizing the value of the Special Reserve Division, investing in their training, and highlighting their role in supporting OPSO operations.

  • Transparency & Accountability

    • Made a commitment to open communication with the public and holding ourselves accountable, demonstrated through the creation of the Compliance & Accountability Bureau, regularly publishing incident reports and press releases, improving social media engagement, and launching a new dedicated website, smartphone app and OPSO podcast.
    • Internal investigations have uncovered financial misconduct by former employees, leading to arrests and highlighting the administration's commitment to rooting out unethical behavior.
    • The launch of a dedicated helpline provides a confidential channel for reporting misconduct and fosters a culture of accountability within the agency.

  • Other Accomplishments

    • Launch of the Trinity City Artivist Club, a creative development program at OJC, focusing on using artivism to foster self-awareness and self-advocacy among youth residents.
    • Implementation of a program to distribute Naloxone to individuals being released from OJC, aiming to address the opioid overdose crisis in the parish.
    • Partnership with NOPD and NORD Commission to introduce the DARE curriculum into NORD Summer Camps, promoting positive decision-making skills and drug-free lifestyles among youth.
    • Securing nearly $5 million in grant funding in 2023 to support reentry initiatives, aimed at reducing recidivism and enhancing community reintegration in Orleans Parish.
    • Launch of a dynamic recruitment campaign, utilizing various media platforms to attract new deputies and address staffing shortages.

MOVING FORWARD


Sheriff Hutson has requested a significant budget increase for 2025 to address the growing demands on OPSO and continue implementing her reform agenda. This budget request highlights the need for sustained investment in OPSO to ensure the agency can:


  • Adequately staff the jail and provide competitive salaries to attract and retain qualified deputies.
  • Expand programming and services focused on rehabilitation, reentry, and family reunification.
  • Continue efforts to achieve full compliance with the federal consent decree and improve conditions within OJC.
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