NEW ORLEANS - 03-19-2021

Following is a statement from the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office regarding attorney-client visitation at the Orleans Justice Center:

"The Orleans Parish Criminal District Court is closed the week of March 22-26, 2021 for repairs. However, the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office will facilitate meetings between attorneys and their clients in jail.

Specifically, the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office is working with the Orleans Public Defenders Office to utilize the Zoom court conferencing system that is used by the judges for client meetings during the week of March 22, 2021.

"The OPSO also welcomes any private defense attorneys who wish to conduct remote visits during that week to contact OPSO at 504-202-9305 to be placed on the schedule. Sheriff Marlin N. Gusman hopes that these visits, which allow attorneys to remain at their homes or offices, will speed the resolution or make progress in the backlog of cases in the Criminal District Court because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"While the on-site attorney video visitation system is still available, as well as face-to-face visitation through plexiglass dividers, we are providing an additional accommodation for attorneys to meet with their clients.

"Sheriff Gusman said: 'We hope to install a system in the near future which will allow remote attorney and family video visits to increase access, while reducing wait times for onsite visits. In the meantime, we look forward to continuing to work with attorneys to safely meet with their clients during the pandemic.'"

NEW ORLEANS - 03-16-2021

On Friday, March 12, the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office vaccinated 33 inmates who qualified for a COVID-19 vaccine under the state's previous vaccination guidelines. Under those guidelines, OPSO's health care workers vaccinated inmates age 65 and older with co-morbidities.

The Sheriff's Office is aggressively pursuing the COVID-19 vaccine so that all inmates will be afforded an opportunity to receive it. The Sheriff's Office will receive 100 doses of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine today. Under expanded guidelines announced last week, the Sheriff's Office can now offer the vaccine to inmates age 55 and older. An additional 200 doses of the Moderna vaccine are expected to be delivered next week.

Sheriff Marlin N. Gusman said, "The vaccinations, monthly COVID testing, quarantining of staff and inmates as needed, and following all COVID-19 protocols, has helped us control the spread of the coronavirus in our facilities."

The Sheriff's Office is continuing to conduct mass testing of staff and inmates. As of Monday, March 15, seven inmates are known positive for COVID-19. There are two known positive cases among OPSO employees and contractors following the results of the last mass testing, the eleventh since the pandemic began.

NEW ORLEANS - 02-26-2021

The Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office mourns the loss of the deputy constable killed tonight in the line of duty. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and the 2nd City Court Constable at this difficult time.