The agreement allowing the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office to prosecute some crimes committed in Orleans Parish is now official.
Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams and Attorney General Liz Murrill signed that agreement on Monday. According to the Attorney General’s Office, the signed document solidifies an informal agreement Murrill and Williams made prior to Murrill taking office in January. In November, Governor Jeff Landry touted the agreement as a way for local and state law officials to work together to combat crime in the city of New Orleans and to make the city safer for residents and tourists alike.
Under the cooperative endeavor agreement, Murrill’s office will prosecute crimes in Orleans Parish resulting from arrests made by Louisiana State Police or by law enforcement agencies “working under the direction of or in cooperation with” State Police.
“We’re executing the cooperative endeavor agreement to reboot New Orleans and make sure that New Orleans is safe for all of our people, the people who live there and the people who visit there,” Murrill said in a statement.
"I am extremely appreciative of additional on-the-ground law enforcement personnel to combat the violent crime that plagues our City. This strategic partnership is the logical next step to build upon the incredible progress that our prosecutors and staff made in 2023," Williams said in a separate statement.
"Our emphasis on innovative law enforcement strategies, smart but tough prosecution, and targeted initiatives has led to a historic and extraordinary decline in violent crime in the City. This agreement with the Attorney General's office allows us to further strengthen our ability to continue to surge back against crime."
