I recently interviewed (Ret.) Judge Julian Parker, who is running for Orleans Parish Sheriff on October 11. Disclosure: This conversation took place before the jail break last month. I will preface my questions with MR and Judge Parker's replies with JP. Disclaimer: This should not be seen as a political endorsement. I am sharing a discussion that may interest readers. I am open to having a similar conversation with any of the other candidates in this race. Each of you should consider the issues and vote according to your conscience.
I must say that I was intrigued by Judge Parker's nuanced approach to sentencing and incarceration. As a prison chaplain, I found this particularly appealing.
MR: Please share what motivated you to throw your hat in the ring and what makes your candidacy unique.
JP: I served as a judge on the Criminal District Court for almost 20 years, and before that, I had a career in law and law enforcement. I have had concerns regarding the direction of the Sheriff's Office for some time and have decided to take the initiative and enter the race. My background is clean and scandal-free. My time on the bench makes me uniquely qualified to serve in this capacity. On one hand, the sentences I handed down for violent crimes were on the stricter end, and I was not easy with bail bonds.
On the other hand, I was the first judge to volunteer to undertake the drug court docket in addition to my regular caseload. Drug Court allowed me to offer alternatives to incarceration for lesser drug offenders. We oversaw an 18-month process of a structured program that combined probation with rehabilitation and education, followed by a six-month "after-care" that included a substance-abuse program such as AA or NA. An offender who completed the program avoided prison and could have their record expunged. Many led productive lives, securing an education, a job, and a new start. In addition to reducing the inmate population, this also saved the taxpayers significant costs. Each participant in the program costs the state $2,000.00 for the 18-month program, compared to tens of thousands per year for incarceration. This experience gave me a nuanced perspective on sentencing and the criminal justice system.
MR: Let's back up for a moment. Many argue that there are too many different law enforcement agencies in the city of New Orleans. We have NOPD, OPSO, CCC police, Levee Police, Harbor Police, Constables, and probably a few that I miss. Wouldn't it be a good idea to consider combining and being more efficient with public funds?
JP: The Sheriff does not have authority over other law enforcement agencies. However, there should be better coordination between these agencies, especially in emergencies. Law enforcement agencies have specific and varied responsibilities.
MR: The Jewish community has been burdened with the need for additional security around our facilities and events since the Pittsburgh Tree of Life shooting in late 2018, and the subsequent uptick in antisemitism. While Federal grants for "target hardening" have been beneficial, the increased cost for security personnel poses an ongoing challenge to Jewish institutions. Though this is a legislative issue, I would like your thoughts on utilizing existing law enforcement agencies.
JP: As Sheriff, I would implement increased unscheduled visits to vulnerable houses of worship. The OPSO will have representation on the FBI task force that deals with these issues. I have experience in utilizing intelligence to determine areas of need. We would also regularly contact Jewish community leadership and organizations such as the ADL to keep our finger on the pulse. I would consider utilizing volunteer reserve deputies as security during worship and special events.
MR: Thank you for sharing your thoughts with our community—best of luck with the campaign.
JP: Thank you for the opportunity to share my message with the community.
I hope that you find this informative. I look forward to speaking to other candidates over the coming months.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Mendel Rivkin