Orleans sheriff’s office criticized for authorizing filming of reality TV series in prison

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Civil rights attorneys representing those incarcerated in the New Orleans jail say they were misled by the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office regarding a Netflix reality show that was filmed in the establishment and expected to air later this month.

The lawyers, who are part of a long-standing federal consent decree intended to improve prison conditions and bring it into line with the U.S. Constitution, say Sheriff Marlin Gusmans’ office has twice informed them that the show was closed and ended after voicing concerns about it last year.

But the show, Jailbirds: New Orleans, which features inmates incarcerated at the Orleans Justice Center, is slated for release on September 24.

A previous iteration of the show was filmed in Sacramento jail, where it was criticized by defense attorneys and civil rights activists. Inmates claimed the production crew staged incidents to escalate the drama, guards allowed fighting to take place that would not otherwise have been allowed, and remand prisoners were allowed to speak out about their cases in front of the camera without the presence of lawyers. The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department was reimbursed by the production company over $ 40,000 for nearly 500 extra hours needed to keep the Jailbirds set safe.

Emily Washington, deputy director of the Roderick and Solange MacArthur Justice Center, which represents the class of plaintiffs incarcerated in the New Orleans prison in connection with the consent decree litigation, said in a statement to The Lens that they felt the new season wouldn’t move forward after discussions with the sheriff’s office over a year ago.

In early 2020, after raising concerns about the significant risk of harm posed to our clients by filming a reality show at the Orleans Justice Center, OPSO twice stated that the show’s production had been arrested and arrested, the statement said. In a prison that still does not comply with important parts of the consent judgment, including those directly related to ensuring the health and safety of those imprisoned in the facility, OPSO should not be diverting its time, its resources and attention. OPSO’s choice to do so is the latest example of the agency’s unclear and distorted priorities that continue to allow dangerous and unconstitutional conditions to persist.

The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office did not respond to questions regarding conversations with MacArthur, or whether other parties involved in the consent decree or the federal judge overseeing the litigation, Lance Africk, had been consulted regarding production of the show.

Blake Arcuri, an OPSO lawyer, said the shooting was in no way related to the consent judgment.

The deal was approved in 2013 as part of a class action lawsuit against OPSO following a US Department of Justice finding in 2009 that the facility did not adequately protect incarcerated people. against violence inflicted by other inmates and prison staff, and mental disorders and medical care in the facility did not meet constitutional standards.

In recent years, one of the main problems facing the establishment has been the lack of staff.

A report from monitors in January 2020 around the time the show was filmed noted that while the sheriff’s office regularly pays assistants to work overtime, there are frequently housing units and control rooms. without assigned staff.

In addition, almost daily, assigned staff leave housing units and control modules unattended for meal breaks and other tasks, the report said.

In its statement, OPSO said that the production of the show had no impact on the day-to-day operation of the facility and that the production company, 44 Blue Productions, was required to hire sheriff’s deputies in time off to ensure the safety of the team.

This shoot had no impact on daily prison staffing levels in pods or other locations around the OJC, the statement said. The production teams were closely monitored throughout this process to ensure they met all of the terms of our agreement.

Quarrels, flirtations and discussions on the toilet

It is not known exactly when the series was filmed. OPSO said in a statement that production took place in early 2020 and lasted for four days, but would not respond to repeated requests for exact filming dates.

A trailer for the show’s new season features footage of inmates appearing in on-camera interviews, interacting with OPSO staff and socializing with each other, as well as housed male inmates. in a separate part of the prison using the infrastructure plumbing to communicate.

Quarrels, flirtations, and toilet talk take place among women incarcerated at the Orleans Justice Center in New Orleans in this gritty reality series, the synopsis reads on Netflix.

The sheriff’s office said it has decided to go ahead with the show, to give the audience a glimpse into the realities of day-to-day life within the walls of our facility and the criminal justice system in general.

By sharing their stories and showcasing the work of some of our assistants within the pods of the Orléans Justice Center, we expected that messages could be shared to show the common struggles detainees face in their journeys. individuals to rebuild their lives and deter others from taking the same path of incarceration, the statement read.

But defense attorneys and criminal justice reform groups are also critical of the show’s underlying premise. In a joint statement Thursday, Orléans public defenders, along with the Orléans Parish Prison Reform Coalition, Voice of the Experienced and Promise of Justice Initiative, said they were dismayed to learn of the ’emission.

Mass incarceration has countless negative impacts on individuals, their families and the community, the statement said. It should not be misinterpreted as a form of adult summer camp, or used for punchlines, sound bites, or the exploitation of vulnerable people. That reality TV is a priority says a lot.

They called it a heinous abuse of sheriff’s time.44 Blue Productions is also the producer of the Nightwatch reality show, which tracks emergency medical workers and is currently filming in New Orleans. Nightwatch has recently been the subject of controversy, with critics claiming that their presence during emergencies can invade patient privacy and impact the quality of care they receive. New Orleans EMS and 44 Blue have denied these charges.

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