NEW ORLEANS — Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill says she is ordering the Louisiana Department of Justice to open an investigation into the ankle monitoring contracts with the juvenile court system in New Orleans and she lashed out at what she called a "broken system" after a popular French Quarter tour guide was killed recently while in her car on St. Peter Street.
"I have ordered the Louisiana Department of Justice to open an investigation into the ankle monitoring contracts with the Juvenile Court system in New Orleans. What happened to Kristie Thibodeaux should have never happened," said Attorney General Liz Murrill.
Police said the suspects are 19, 17, and 15 and WWL Louisiana's Investigator Mike Perlstein reported that the unnamed 15-year-old was ordered into an electronic ankle monitoring system after a previous offense.
Murrill issued a statement blasting the ankle monitoring system and questioning where was the parental supervision for the teens.
Police said the teens had robbed a couple of other victims at gunpoint before shooting Thibodeaux during a robbery attempt.
"This is clearly a broken system and it needs to change immediately. The ankle monitoring system is a complete waste of time and money if everyone involved is asleep at the wheel. And the consequences, as we have seen, are grave and irrevocable for victims like Kristie Thibodaux and her family and friends," said Murrill in an official statement.
She suggested that the state supreme court order changes to the NOLA juvenile court system and the firing of the monitoring contractor.
She also said she wanted the parents held accountable.
"Where are the parents of these boys?" she asked. "They need to be held accountable too."
Murrill then took a shot at the city of New Orleans. The state of Louisiana has placed Troop NOLA, a group of State Police officers, to supplement the city's own police department, and violent crime is dropping, but she said there is still much more to do.
"While I am working to help keep New Orleans safe, this is just another prime example of the dysfunction we are dealing with," she said.
Orleans District Attorney Jason Williams wants to do away with the program. He says violent offenders should be in custody, especially if they violate the terms of their release. Williams says there should be more accountability for the monitoring companies, as they should be effectively communicating with authorities.
“In light of the trends of a complete dereliction of duty in matters of violent defendants released on electronic monitoring after conviction, with no guardrails from OJJ and OPJC, we as a city have to seriously consider shutting down electronic monitoring until we can be confident in the competence of the administrators to conduct real monitoring and the commitment of judges to ensure actual accountability for young defendants for violations and noncompliance,” Williams said in a statement.
Some disagree, saying ankle monitoring works if it's done right. Assured Supervision Accountability Program, or ASAP, supervises adults who wear ankle monitors. They say, implementing certain things like better communication and updated technology can help.
“They have to be proactive. If they’re going to release a juvenile to a set of conditions they have to enforce those conditions,” Jill Dennis, Director of ASAP said.
The City of New Orleans issued the following statement on the death of Thibodeaux:
Criminal attacks against any of our citizens is a tragedy and the City of New Orleans is sympathetic to all victims and their families. We mourn the loss of New Orleans tour guide Kristie Thibodeaux. Ms. Thibodeaux was well known for always giving her best to everyone she encountered and to the city. On behalf of all of our citizens, we extend our heartfelt condolences to her family, friends and all those who loved her.
Regarding ankle monitors, the City of New Orleans does not coordinate or administer any ankle monitors. The ankle monitor program is a collaboration between the Orleans Parish Juvenile Court (OPJC) and The Louisiana Office of Juvenile Justice (OJJ).