New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation

New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation is a nonprofit organization based in New Orleans, Louisiana, focused on supporting law enforcement and criminal justice initiatives in Orleans Parish. The foundation works with local institutions to fund technology, training, and community programs intended to enhance public safety and police effectiveness. Founded in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the organization has collaborated with a range of municipal, state, and national actors to shape policing, policy, and practice in the city.

History

The foundation was established in the context of post-Katrina recovery alongside entities such as City of New Orleans, Hurricane Katrina, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Louisiana State University, Tulane University, and University of New Orleans. Early activity intersected with reform efforts involving the United States Department of Justice and the consent decree process following investigations related to the New Orleans Police Department and civil rights litigation like Franks v. Brandon-style cases and broader scrutiny exemplified by the Black Lives Matter movement. Fundraising and program development drew on networks connected to organizations such as The Rockefeller Foundation, Ford Foundation, Kresge Foundation, Gulf Coast Funders Network, and municipal partners including New Orleans City Council and the Office of Inspector General (New Orleans). Over time the foundation's activities intersected with national debates involving the Cato Institute, Brennan Center for Justice, American Civil Liberties Union, and federal legislative initiatives like provisions in the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 revisited in local reform discussions.

Mission and Programs

The foundation's stated mission aligns with supporting operational capacity for the New Orleans Police Department, criminal justice innovations piloted with institutions such as the Orleans Parish District Attorney and the Juvenile Court of Louisiana, and community safety programs developed with partners like Community of Orleans Parish, Neighborhood Development Foundation, and neighborhood associations tied to historic districts such as the French Quarter and Treme. Programs have included technology procurement that mirrors systems used by agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Louisiana State Police, and municipal police forces in cities like Atlanta, Georgia, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Training initiatives invoked curricula and instructors associated with organizations such as the Police Executive Research Forum, International Association of Chiefs of Police, National Institute of Justice, and academic centers at Harvard Kennedy School and Johns Hopkins University. Community-facing programs linked to nonprofits like Habitat for Humanity, United Way, and local service providers targeted reentry and violence interruption in coordination with stakeholders such as the Orleans Parish Sheriff and the New Orleans Public Schools system.

Governance and Funding

Governance structures have featured boards and advisory councils populated by figures from institutions including Tulane University School of Law, Loyola University New Orleans, Entergy Corporation, Shell Oil Company, Walmart Inc., and local law firms represented in the Louisiana State Bar Association. Funding streams combined philanthropic grants from entities such as Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York, and corporate philanthropy from corporations like Chevron Corporation alongside municipal contracts with the City of New Orleans and project-specific awards involving the U.S. Department of Justice and the Bureau of Justice Assistance. Financial oversight practices referenced standards promoted by Charity Navigator, GuideStar (now Candid), and audit protocols influenced by the Government Accountability Office.

Partnerships and Advocacy

The foundation has partnered with a wide array of organizations, including the New Orleans Police Department, Orleans Parish District Attorney, Orleans Parish Sheriff, Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections, Metropolitan Crime Commission (New Orleans), Urban League of Louisiana, and national groups such as the Council on Criminal Justice, Major Cities Chiefs Association, and National Sheriffs' Association. Advocacy efforts engaged elected officials and policymakers like members of the United States Congress, the Louisiana Legislature, and local magistrates, connecting to reform conversations involving actors such as Attorney General of Louisiana and federal agencies like the Department of Homeland Security. Collaborative projects extended to academic research partners including Princeton University, New York University's Policing Project, and local research centers such as the Tulane Data Science Institute.

Impact and Criticism

Supporters cite outcomes in upgraded communications technology paralleling systems used by the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia and improvements in training consistent with standards from the National Academy of Sciences and the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Critics and civil rights advocates from organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana and community activists in neighborhoods such as Central City and Bywater have raised concerns about accountability, transparency, and the influence of private funding on public policing, echoing debates seen in cases tied to the Department of Justice oversight in cities such as Ferguson, Missouri and Baltimore. Scholarly critique from researchers at institutions like Princeton University, Harvard University, and University of California, Berkeley has focused on efficacy, equity, and data governance, while investigative reporting by outlets including The Times-Picayune, ProPublica, The New York Times, and NOLA.com has scrutinized specific projects, contracts, and outcomes. The foundation remains a focal point in continuing discussions about community safety, reform, and the roles of philanthropic and private-sector actors in municipal policing.

Category:Non-profit organizations based in New Orleans Category:Criminal justice reform in the United States