NEW ORLEANS — Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s criminal justice coordinators appeared before a city council committee to discuss how they intend to use more than $4 million in unspent federal funding.
The bulk of the money would be spent on a new juvenile assessment center – and restorative justice programming.
City Council President Helena Moreno had another idea.
“There appears to be this real need for real-time monitoring for juveniles,” Moreno said. “I think we have an opportunity here using some of this money.”
In June, French Quarter tour guide Kristi Thibodeaux was allegedly shot and killed on St. Peter Street by a 15-year-old.
He had been placed on an ankle monitor for a previous offense.
“All the public wants is to be safe,” City Councilmember Lesli Harris said. “We do not want to hear another time of someone removing their monitor and then going out and shooting somebody in the face or killing them.”
Moreno, Orleans District Attorney Jason Williams and state leaders have been in discussions about a new, $2-million juvenile monitoring program in the city.
The pilot program would monitor about 200 juvenile offenders in real-time.
The city’s Office of Youth and Families Director and Criminal Justice Coordinator were caught off guard by the proposal.
“I didn’t know anything about it, Criminal Justice Coordinator Tenisha Stevens said. “But I’m happy as I’ve always stated before in every email that I’ve sent that I’m happy to discuss. I’m happy to talk if I’m invited to the table.”
DA Williams said if no one is watching the monitor, no juvenile should be placed on an ankle bracelet.
“We need to focus on fixing this problem, yesterday,” Williams said. “I’ll continue to do my part in it.”
Moreno maintains the city council is committed to both the assessment center and real-time monitoring.
The council will ultimately decide how the federal funds are spent.