This office was funded through collections from the traffic court. No traffic collections since Katrina means the PD's have been quitting. PreK there were 39 PD's, all but 8 were laid off. Attempts to restart the system are lagging and justice remains elusive. The PD's in New Orleans operate on a budget of $2.5 million

The upshot is that there are people in jail who haven't seen a lawyer and can't get an appointment to see one. Reports are that some people have been held without a court appearance for longer than the maximum sentence for their alledged crime.

The fear is that we'll have to release people without due process and risk the release of bona fide violent criminals.