Questions arise during Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office consent decree hearing

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office has been under a consent decree for over a decade, with no timetable on when it might end.

During an Oct. 14 consent decree hearing, the OPSO informed Federal Magistrate Michael North that, due to the recent cyber-attack, they were unable to comply with the consent decree as they are rebuilding their database.

Cybersecurity expert Paul Mancuso said this is normal.

“It’s very difficult to stop 100% of things when you have that human element involved, especially when it’s something that looks like it may be legitimate. It’s very easy. And we see these people constantly changing their tactics,” Mancuso said.

Both the Department of Justice and federal monitors say the OPSO has not submitted any reports involving the jail since Sept. 5.

The sheriff’s office called it a misunderstanding, and North gave them two weeks to send the reports in.

Sheriff-elect Michelle Woodfork attended the hearing and said that ending the New Orleans Police Department’s consent decree was something she and others worked on regularly.

“Nicholas Garner was great. He was over our consent decree, and he was methodical. Getting those reforms in place and working with our federal office, working with the federal judge, working with the Department of Justice. And we’re going to do the same thing at the Sheriff’s Department,” Sheriff-elect Woodfork said.

Political analyst Jeff Crouere says that with her background in reshaping departments, it shows she has a desire to get rid of the consent decree quickly.

“She had that experience in the NOPD, and she’s got knowledge of the city. She’s got, really, a good handle on how things operate here in New Orleans. So, yeah, I think it’s I think it’s doable within her term. Definitely. I mean, I think that’s going to be one of her goals,” Crouere said.

Crouere believes the last thing Woodfork wants is to have a consent decree hanging over her head while she’s in office.

“It’s not going to be possible for her to make all the reforms she wants to improve the security at the prison, to make sure she hires enough deputies. You know, they’re terribly understaffed, underpaid and then take care of all the finances,” Crouere said.

In a recent interview, Woodfork said ending the consent decree is at the top of her to-do list as she begins to form her transition team.

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