WWL’s Newell Normand believes restorative justice is a noble endeavor to undertake in the American criminal justice system, but like all things, it must be applied properly, and he’s not sure that’s always the case in Orleans Parish.
Normand said the haphazard way District Attorney Jason Williams had chosen to apply the recommendations for jail time and a lack of “showing his work,” so to speak, as to how those decisions were reached, makes it hard to support his efforts
That’s an opinion that sets the former Jefferson Parish Sheriff apart from NOPD Chief Anne Kirkpatrick.
“I actually believe, and I think all of us believe in restorative justice,” Normand said. “when it is equally applied throughout the state of Louisiana. Not when it's upon the whim of one D.A. And the reality is restorative justice here is not truly restorative.”
You can hear the full segment by clicking the link above.