Crime monitoring guards say

New Orleans (WVUE) – Jason Williams, district prosecutor of Orleans Parish, says that murder detectives in New Orleans are considered “rock stars” in his office.

According to Williams, his prosecutors have a sentence of 90 percent on murder convictions that are supported by the use of technology and data -controlled studies by the NOPD.

But a crime guard paints a somewhat less rossy picture.

“You have to look at the guilty, you have to look at the exams and look at the layoffs,” said Rafael Goyeneche, President of the Metropolitan Crime Commission (MCC).

In the cases of Parish Morish in Orleans in 2024, William's office dismissed 30 percent, said Goyeneche.

“The office of the DA came to the conclusion that there was enough evidence to find a case, to find an indictment and to pursue a criminal law. However, they finally decided to give up the case, and this is referred to as discharge,” said Goyeneche.

If a case is released, the accused goes.

Goyeneche only says that if you omit the layoffs, the conviction rate for Williams' murder cases increases to 90 percent. Otherwise, the data will show a 65 percent conviction.

Nevertheless, said Goyeneche, the numbers look good.

“You see how the law enforcement authorities work and work together, as it did not exist three or four years ago,” he said, referring to the start of Williams. “At least not to the level we see.”

Williams and Goyeneche agree that NOPD detectives create evidence that juries want to see.

“They make it very strategic, and in a very differentiated way, this provides the results that are better than any other place in the country,” said Williams.

In many cases, data is driven, whereby civil servants use social media, criminal cameras and license plate reader technology to create evidence that withstands appropriate doubts.

“You get this information early so that you can remain so that the jury can see you,” said Williams. “I have never seen that case files look better. I have never seen police reports look better.”

The MCC data show that 24 out of 30 attempts at murder ended a conviction last year. This number contains second -degree murder cases in which a possible lifelong prison sentence was led to homicide and was punished with up to 40 years.

The former NOPD superintendent Ronal Serpas says that a strong relationship between the chief of police and the district prosecutor is crucial, but it has to withstand the time.

“The duties and responsibilities to be the best and professional and competent must really exceed over time,” he said. “Nothing bad at that moment, but he has to maintain.”

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