On March 5, 2026, the Criminal Justice Committee in New Orleans convened to hear updates from several city agencies and partners focused on public safety and mental health. The meeting included presentations from the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, the Office of Violence Prevention, Healing Minds NOLA, and Judge Kern Reese of the Orleans Parish Civil District Court.
Officials from the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness provided a detailed overview of crime trends by neighborhood. They reported that the City Council had allocated $30 million from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to upgrade criminal justice technology systems and enhance information sharing between agencies. According to their update, most initiatives funded through ARPA are now operational, with only the replacement of the Jail Management System still in progress.
Data presented at the meeting indicated notable reductions in violent crime between 2022 and 2025. Armed robberies dropped by 70%, nonfatal shootings decreased by 59%, murders fell by 55%, and fatal shootings declined by 61%.
The Health Department’s Office of Crime Prevention also addressed the committee. Speakers stated: “Thanks to transformative investment in the city, shootings and homicides that peaked in 2022 have decreased by 53% between 2023 and 2025.” The Office of Violence Prevention has expanded its efforts through partnerships with various programs and services aimed at preventing violence.
Healing Minds NOLA delivered a presentation about Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) programs operating in Louisiana. These programs focus on identifying individuals with untreated severe mental illness and connecting them to court-ordered outpatient treatment, psychiatric evaluations, and coordinated care with hospitals and providers. The aim is to reduce homelessness, incarceration rates, and repeated hospitalizations among people who struggle to recognize their own illness.
During the session, Ordinance No. 35,341 was recommended for approval by the committee. This ordinance allows for an extension of one year to the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement between the City of New Orleans and Healing Minds NOLA while modifying certain provisions to maintain support for AOT programming.
Under this agreement, Healing Minds NOLA is responsible for arranging payment for physicians who conduct court-ordered mental health evaluations for potential AOT participants. The program operates under oversight from Orleans Parish Civil District Court, linking individuals needing mental health care with appropriate services through case management.
The committee’s actions reflect ongoing efforts within New Orleans to address both public safety concerns and mental health needs through collaboration among government agencies, nonprofits, and judicial authorities.
