Bill would create Criminal Justice System Pilot Program
providing access to info for the public and the press
NEW ORLEANS, LA – Standing with many families who have been
impacted by crime in Orleans, Caddo, and East Baton Rouge – Attorney General
Jeff Landry this morning announced his support for legislation that would
provide no-cost, easy online access to criminal court records and case
information for victims, families of defendants, members of the public, and the
press.
“The people of Louisiana have a right to know what is
happening in our court system, whether the system is working, and how those
trusted to run the system are delivering justice and protecting us from violent
crime,” said Attorney General Landry. “This legislation, authored by
Representative Debbie Villio, will begin to immediately address this crisis in
New Orleans, Shreveport, and Baton Rouge.”
“This program will provide
access to criminal court records and case information for victims, the families
of defendants, citizens, and the press at no cost to them,” added Attorney
General Landry. “Looking beyond this legislation, we hope to create a
registered victim notification system that will utilize modern technologies to
notify individuals of upcoming court proceedings related to their cases.”
Under the measure, the clerks will provide the Louisiana
Department of Justice with a secure connection to its criminal court records
and databases. Once that connection has been established, the LADOJ will host
an online portal for citizens to view criminal court records in their totality
– at no-cost to the user.
“You cannot maintain the rule of law, or dispense justice, when we are all
wandering around lost in the dark,” concluded Attorney General Landry. “This
plan will expose who in the system should be held accountable for the failures;
when DA’s fail to prosecute, when judges fail to act, when police are handcuffed
instead of the criminals.”
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Video from the press conference announcing the legislation may be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQwObZOjGyM.
