Chief Kirkpatrick expresses support for ‘restorative justice’ amid inmate resentencings

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick pointed to the city’s emphasis on “restorative justice” when asked on Friday, Aug. 16, about the resentencing of prisoners in Orleans Parish.

A Fox 8 investigation found at least 28 prisoners were resentenced in Orleans Parish in recent months. Many of them committed violent offenses.

Twenty-three of those offenders are now free after being resentenced in the parish, including Terrance Burton, who was convicted of manslaughter in a deadly 2009 quadruple shooting.

Court records show District Attorney Jason Williams’ Civil Rights Division agreed to some of the resentencings. Williams is facing an inquiry from Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill into his office’s use of the practice. He’s also been called to testify about the issue in front of lawmakers this September.

Kirkpatrick indicated she supports efforts to rehabilitate criminals.

“I actually believe, and I think all of us believe, in restorative justice. Yes, there’s always a concern if people recidivate, however, people paid that due. They paid their dues and now they’re out. Many people do restore. So if we say we believe in restorative justice then we need to practice it. Is it a concern, and yes we always watch, but I also want law enforcement to be a partner in helping people be fully restored,” she said.

RELATED STORIES

• Shooter in 2009 manslaughter and triple attempted murder is resentenced and free
• AG’s office challenges resentencing of Orleans armed robber under odd circumstances
• At least 28 prisoners resentenced before new oversight law took effect, records show

Williams has not yet agreed to an interview, but his office released a statement reading in part:

“It is well known that New Orleans has been an outlier in creating unjust and defective verdicts. We led the world in the number of wrongful convictions and exonerations, meaning that historically we have convicted the wrong person at a high rate while leaving the guilty offender free.

The District Attorney stated, if elected by the people of New Orleans, whom he represents, to allow New Orleans courts to review and address past injustices on the merits in post conviction where legitimate questions of the fairness of the conviction or sentence were raised. The District Attorney’s position on post conviction is the position of the law. We firmly believe in the rule of law and abide by it.

In every case involving victims, we have conducted extraordinary levels of victim outreach and engagement.”

See a spelling or grammar error in our story? Click Here to report it. Please include the headline.

Subscribe to the Fox 8 YouTube channel.