In a significant step towards policing reform, the U.S. Justice Department, in partnership with the City of New Orleans, has proposed a plan that would initiate a two-year sustainment period for the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD). This move, pending approval by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, acknowledges the strides NOPD has made in adhering to the requirements of the existing consent decree. During this period, NOPD will aim to demonstrate fully autonomous compliance monitoring and the ability to take corrective measures when needed, as reported in the Justice Department's announcement.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke expressed optimism in the progress made, stating, "Today’s filing recognizes the significant progress the City of New Orleans and the New Orleans Police Department have made to ensure constitutional and fair policing." She further emphasized the ongoing collaboration with NOPD, the City, and the Court Monitor to ultimately comply with and sustain the reform measures. In tandem with NOPD and local officials, the Justice Department is working to solidify public safety enhancements and bolster police-community relations—according to a statement made by the Justice Department.
Several milestones mark NOPD's commitment to reform, seeing a notable 47% reduction in serious use of force incidents from 2015 to 2023. NOPD has also greatly improved upon its Stop, Search, and Arrest practices, reaching a 95.4% compliance rate in 2023. Additionally, efforts to reduce language barriers have been bolstered, with key policies and forms now available in Spanish and Vietnamese, and an increase in certified interpreters.
Another highlight is the addition of new investigators to the NOPD to better manage cases involving sexual violence. Additionally, the City has developed a Mobile Crisis Intervention Unit, effectively diverting over 3,360 calls for service from law enforcement to this specialized unit. These advances, along with the Justice Department's ongoing investigations into police departments nationwide, demonstrate a continuous commitment to constitutional policing standards. Shane Jones, Community Outreach Coordinator for the U.S. Attorney's Office, emphasized this, with further details available on the Civil Rights Division's website.
