NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) – Mayor Mitch Landrieu and Sheriff Marlin Gusman met in federal court Friday, meeting with a judge about the housing of state inmates at the new jail. The city claims the sheriff voluntarily houses 350 to 400 state prisoners at the expense of New Orleans taxpayers, when these prisoners should be sent back to the state. The city says it’s not their responsibility and it’s fiscal insanity.
Then, in August, before moving into the new jail, Sheriff Gusman began transferring 180 pre-trial detainees to jails in East Carroll and Franklin parishes. The mayor responded by sending a letter to the Department of Corrections Secretary James Le Blanc , who also attended Friday’s meeting. It said Orleans Parish shouldn’t have to take on relocation costs, and they would sue to recover that money, which the city is entitled to. This is one of many issues that’s come up between the mayor and the sheriff over the new jail. It will likely take some time before a solution is made.