Retired Orleans Parish criminal court judge Terry Q. Alarcon is being considered for the role of special master?to settle on the immediate cost of an impending federal consent decree?aimed at reforming?the much-criticized Orleans Parish jail facilities. A court entry filed late Tuesday describes a conference call in which Alarcon was discussed for the job.
Negotiations about improving conditions at the jail have hit the rocks over questions about how much money Sheriff Marlin Gusman will need from the city to comply with the consent decree, according to a notice filed late last week by the U.S. Justice Department and attorneys for jail inmates.
After months of contentious, on-again, off-again talks, money appears to be the main issue standing in the way of a final agreement to overhaul operations in the jail.
In two "finding letters," the Justice department reported unconstitutional levels of violence at the jail, as well as inadequate mental health care for prisoners and other problems.
In the notice filed Friday, attorneys for the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Justice Department told U.S. District Judge Lance Africk that sexual assaults and other violent attacks on inmates continue as the sides try to haggle over "interim funding" that the city needs to chip in to start implementing the decree.
Africk gave both sides until Wednesday afternoon to lodge any objections to Alarcon or suggest other candidates.
Alarcon, 63, left the criminal court bench at the end of last year after 15 years, saying he wanted to pursue business interests. Before that, he was a Traffic Court judge.
Alarcon has deep political ties, having served as executive counsel and chief of staff to former Mayer Sidney Barthelemy. He also had served as executive assistant to former Orleans Parish Criminal Sheriff Charles Foti.
Alarcon said he was aware of the discussions but couldn't comment on them.
Just how long discussions over money will go before the parties file the consent decree with the court remains unknown.
The?agreement would settle civil rights claims against Gusman's office through a series of requirements to reduce violence in the jail facilities and improve mental health care.
Like the recent consent decree for the New Orleans Police Department, it?is expected to?be both broad and specific.
According to court records, it will require changes to rework suicide prevention practices, improve sanitation, bolster medical care and offer translation services for people who don't speak English.
Source: http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2012/10/retired_orleans_parish_judge_m.html
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