Dear fellow New Orleanians,

New Orleans is a remarkable city famous for its captivating history, exceptional cuisine, and
outstanding entertainment. I know this because I have lived here my entire life, and my family
has resided here for generations. I was born, raised, educated, and had a professional career in New Orleans. I went to Abramson, Xavier, Michigan State, and Southern University Law
School. I have been married for forty-four years and have three sons and three granddaughters.

 

I've spent most of my adult life working in the New Orleans criminal justice system. In my
eighteen-year judicial career, I presided over thousands of criminal cases as a trial section judge,
drug court judge, and chief judge. I volunteered at the New Orleans Police Department
Academy, teaching criminal law, civil rights, constitutional law, and Field Training Officer
classes. I am P.O.S.T. (Peace Officer Standards and Training) certified by the Louisiana
Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Criminal Justice. I served as a
prosecutor in both State and Federal courts. As a prosecutor, I handled various crimes, including
arson, drug racketeering, and homicide. I tried 76 felony jury trials in one year, setting a
courthouse record. I also led the Narcotics Strike Force and the ATF Safe Home Task Force.
Sadly, our great city has its share of problems, including many in the Orleans Parish Sheriffs
Office.

 

The Orleans Parish Sheriff made national news a few years ago when a video surfaced
showing Parish Prison inmates drinking beer, shooting dope, and brandishing a loaded gun inside the jail. Thereafter, the Sheriffs office found itself at the center of a federal lawsuit over the conditions at the prison. A consent decree resolved the lawsuit. Eleven years after the consent decree was entered, the New Orleans jail was still not compliant. Inmate-on-inmate violence is rampant. Some deputy sheriffs use unnecessary force on inmates. The prison warden threatened an inmate with bodily harm. There has been a prison riot. Inmates have died of drug overdoses while in the Sheriffs custody.

As an attorney and retired judge, I understand the terms of the Consent Decree overseen by
Judge Lance Africk of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.

We will engage an expert and former consent decree monitor to assist us in meeting the benchmarks required to fulfill the terms.
 
We will hire an experienced prison warden with strong management and interpersonal skills who
can remain composed in stressful situations. The warden will ensure respectful treatment of
inmates, thorough training for deputies, and a zero-tolerance policy for excessive force. Our goal
is to prevent jail violence and fatalities.

I uphold fairness and impartiality as the former Chief and Drug Court Judge of the Orleans
Parish Criminal District Court. I was among the first drug court judges in Louisiana, managing a successful 18-month alternative to incarceration program that reduced recidivism rates for non- violent offenders.

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My research showed that approximately 65 percent of prison inmates in the
United States met the medical criteria for addiction, but only 11 percent received treatment.
Evidence showed that treatment is more effective than incarceration for long-term outcomes, as
it tackles the root causes of crime and aids reintegration into the community. My program
emphasized drug rehabilitation and included GED classes for participants without high school
diplomas. Graduates were encouraged to apply for expungement under Louisiana Article 893
(the expungement statute) to help them obtain jobs and housing. We will offer similar programs
to inmates, collaborating with Drug Courts and the Probation and Parole Department to provide
second chances.

After Hurricane Katrina, the city had numerous unused and deteriorated buildings. The Orleans Parish Sheriff owns several blighted structures that were abandoned for twenty years. The Sheriffs blighted properties are a public health and safety hazard. I pledge to work with the City Council and city departments to evaluate and either renovate or demolish such properties using private, state, and federal grants. We will eliminate blight and put the renovated buildings up for auction by working with non-profit organizations, construction contractors, houses of worship, and volunteers.

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A vacant building owned by the Orleans Parish Sheriffs Office went up in flames in the early morning of January 13, 2025. The next-door neighbor was placed in extreme peril. Nearby neighbors complained to the Sheriff's Office for over a year about the blighted building, but the Sheriff ignored their complaints.

We will collaborate with local medical schools, such as Xavier, L.S.U., and Tulane, to create a
network that provides inmates with counseling and mental health treatment. We will seek their assistance and expertise in this initiative.

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America is a prosperous, generous country, as evidenced by the hundreds of grants available to local governments that plan and apply ahead of time. Even though our federal government is changing, now is not the time to give up on federal grant applications. I will hire an experienced grant writer to apply for as many grants as possible to renovate or demolish blighted and abandoned buildings.

The Sheriffs Office has not adhered to the consent decree and operates a dysfunctional prison.
Moreover, it possesses neglected properties that pose risks to our communities. With three
decades of experience dedicated to ensuring public safety, I am compelled to act. After
consulting with family and friends, I have decided to utilize my skills to enhance safety in New
Orleans. I am stepping out of retirement to serve as your full-time Sheriff. 

 

Leveraging my background as a lawyer, prosecutor, and judge, I intend to improve correctional facilities, revamp the Sheriffs Office, and ensure the safety of New Orleans.

 

Your support would be greatly appreciated.

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With kind regard,

Judge Julian A. Parker II