NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — A report from the Metropolitan Crime Commission claims that for the past two years, the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office, under the direction of District Attorney Jason Williams, has “undermined” the work of the New Orleans Police Department and public safety.
According to the MCC, during 2021 and 2022, NOPD officers were focused on arresting violent felony offenders amid a spiking violent crime rate and a “shrinking police force.”
In turn, though, the MCC’s report claims that Williams and his office dismissed or refused to prosecute over half the felony cases.
“We saw crime accelerate in 2021 and 2022 as the new DA was implementing new policies that benefitted offenders to the detriment of public safety,” said MCC President Rafael Goyeneche. “An arrest does not mean that an offender has been held accountable.”
According to the statistics, major violent crime surged 69% from 937 incidents in 2019 to 1,582 in 2022. Total violent felony arrests made in 2021 and 2022 combined were 4,294. Under Williams 2,941 violent felony arrests were refused or dismissed.
Numbers reflecting felony convictions in 2019 fell from 44% under Leon Cannizzaro to 20% under Williams.
The MCC reported that every major crime category had a lower felony conviction rate under the first two years of Williams’ administration.
“Felony offenders are not deterred from continuing to victimize the citizenry when there are little to no consequences for felony violations of the law,” said Goyeneche. “Public safety is compromised when victims and witnesses become unwilling to come forward because they see there is a low likelihood of conviction.”
According to the MCC, while the statistics have caused concern, the Williams’ office is modifying policies that will lead to a decline in felony convictions, bringing about promise for improvements in the future of public safety.
In response to the MCC’s report, Williams said, “This idea that we can solve the crime problem in its entirety by mass incarceration has been proven wrong time and time again.”
He continued, “Notably, this report does not provide a single example of a case where we are alleged to have made a bad decision. Making charging or resolution decisions with the lives of victims and defendants on the line while being preoccupied with the end stats is dangerous and unethical.”
Williams claims that some of the MCC’s numbers are “speculative” or “editorial.” Additionally, he noted that the city had a 27% drop in homicides in 2023.
“The community elected me because they wanted the system to be fair because it was not historically fair. My office fully embraces that charge and is working diligently to undo the sins of the past.”
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