Both candidates in the Orleans Parish Sheriffs run-off spoke with WWL’s Newell Normand Tuesday, laying out their visions for the city’s jail.
17-year incumbent Marlin Gusman was forced into a surprise runoff by former NOPD Independent Monitor Susan Hutson after falling two points shy of winning outright earlier this month.
Gusman touted his experience running the facility and improvements made over his near two-decade long tenure.
“I’ve been Sheriff for the last 17-years and have really changed the landscape of what was here when I got elected,” said Gusman. “When I was elected there was 13 different jails and now we have one jail with a direct supervision model.”
You can hear Gusman’s full argument below:
Gusman also highlighted other programs started under his watch, including his work helping inmates transition out of jail and into jobs.
Hutson is positioning herself as a reform-minded candidate with decades of work in criminal justice reform and police oversight, including stints in Austin, Los Angeles, and most recently New Orleans. She blasted Gusman, accusing him of a lack of transparency and leadership.
“I don’t believe the employees, including all of the deputies, are valued at OPSO,” said Huston. “They are not trained appropriated, paid appropriately, and not allowed to be a part of the solution. If they were, this consent decree would be done by now.”
You can hear Hutson’s full argument below:
Hutson said 80% of prisoners at the jail are in for non-violent crimes, and supports lowering the facility’s inmate population to 500. She also opposes the construction of a new prison mental health facility.
“Who is going to staff this new jail? There is not enough dollars to go around, there are not enough people to go around, this is a waste of funding when we can retrofit at a good cost of taxpayers money,” said Hutson.
Gusman, who backs construction of the new facility, tore into Hutson over her opposition.
“I’m puzzled as to why people who want to call themselves reformers would not be for what is really a clinic, medical and health clinic, that is going to help people,” said Gusman.
The run-off election will be held December 11th.