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Prisoner Lost for 13 Months in New Orleans System

Via Facing South, Pedro Parra-Sanchez, age 44 and a resident of California, moved to New Orleans to assist with the Katrina recovery. Six days later he was arrested for assault.

13 months later, he had still not seen a defense attorney -- or brought before a judge. He doesn't speak a lot of English. Other inmates alerted the Tulane law clinic. He finally was located and brought to court -- last week.

At his arraignment -- a court proceeding the law requires to take place within, at most, a month after charges are filed -- Parra-Sanchez could speak only through a translator about his extended stay in a prison system that officials from several agencies admitted simply lost him, failing to secure him the most basic American rights.

Apologies have been forthcoming:

At the hearing, Assistant District Attorney Greg Thompson expressed the prosecution's "formal apology" for Parra-Sanchez's "prolonged incarceration," while Criminal District Court Judge Darryl Derbigny called his time in jail "unacceptable."

What went wrong?

After being booked on Oct. 13, 2005, with aggravated battery after a street fight, Parra-Sanchez, 44, disappeared into the chaos of the post-Katrina collapse of the city's legal system, which after the flood booked suspects through "Camp Greyhound" at the bus station, and scattered thousands of pretrial inmates across the state with no access to legal assistance for months.

Parra-Sanchez told the court this week how his family had suffered:

In an interview Tuesday, Parra-Sanchez, wearing long curly hair and a wide smile, said his family also suffered during his incarceration. Without his salary, the family struggled financially, unable to make rent on their house in Bakersfield. They ended up in a trailer in an RV park. On the witness stand, Parra-Sanchez broke down in tears when he described how his oldest daughter moved out of the house to live with her boyfriend to lessen the financial burden on his wife.

Parra-Sanchez is not an isolated case:

In the post-Katrina criminal justice environment, Parra-Sanchez's case isn't unique. Metzger and others at the Tulane Law Clinic have discovered at least three other inmates lost in the prison system after they were arrested in the weeks after the storm. All of these defendants were booked through "Camp Greyhound," at the Union Passenger Terminal on Loyola Avenue.

"We keep finding them," said Katherine Mattes, another professor at the Tulane Law Clinic.

Now, Parra-Sanchez finally gets to go home.

Today, Parra-Sanchez hopes to begin his journey home to see his family for the first time in more than a year, catching a train that will take him to California. The ticket was purchased through a donation from Touro Synagogue.

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  • Display: Sort:
    This is some of the most bigoted,... (5.00 / 3) (#17)
    by Bill Arnett on Fri Dec 01, 2006 at 12:49:25 PM EST
    ...vile,  nasty, spiteful, nonsensical posts you have ever made, PPJ, and although I do not as a rule address you any longer I must tell you here that you are so far off base as to border on lunacy.

    A man is arrested, illegally held for a l-o-o-o-n-n-n-g time, his rights never accorded by the authorities, and you blame the victim of a penal system gone mad in New Orleans.

    Your repeated statements that the newspaper failed to provide PROOF that he was a legal resident is entirely moot; that determination was obviously made by the courts and the prosecutor, for that is where the newspaper would have obtained their information.

    But you REALLY cross the line into fantasy world and bigotry where you state:

    "And one other thing... If he was legal, and if his family was legal, why didn't they contact someone in CA?? I would guess there are numerous immigrant rights groups that would have been anxious to help."

    What, Jim, ya think jails are country clubs where you can just pick up a phone and call anyone any time you like? As a bail agent for almost 15-years, and I  am sure Jeralyn can confirm this, it can sometimes be difficult to impossible to get to a phone, and the article states the hard times that befell the family, so there is no guarantee that they EVEN HAD A PHONE.

    Here you show an utter lack of knowledge in respect of immigration:

    "But one thing is for sure. We are allowing immigrants of both legal and illegal types into the country too fast if one with (obviously) no resources, can survive for 13 years without learning English."

    TWELVE YEARS AGO my wife and I filled out all the paperwork for my wife's Filipino son and his wife to come here to the states. Two years later we got a notice that his/her names had been added to the list for immigration - and in the TEN YEARS since there has been nothing more forthcoming. Immigrating to America is nowhere near "too fast."

    Further evidence of your bias:

    "It is called "assimilation" folks. And if it isn't done you can expect some serious problems."

    There is no requirement for an American citizen or legal immigrant to speak English. Obviously, as well, you don't know anything about Bakersfield, CA where probably 60 to 75% of residents are farm workers and speak Spanish only. How many other languages do you speak?

    "Perhaps he should have thought about his family before he:

    After being booked on Oct. 13, 2005, with aggravated battery after a street fight, Parra-Sanchez,..."

    How would you have any idea if his arrest was even justified? How could you know whether or not he was simply defending himself? How do you know that he was properly identified in the first place and was never involved in the fight?

    Better by far to assume his guilt and that he was the sole creator of his problem, eh?

    "And yes, I am capable, as the Left is not, of having sympathy for the victim while noting their contribution to the problem, and the long term impact these actions can have on society.

    Otherwise these things turn into a "sob-sister" story worthy of the days of "yellow journalism" or even more so, "Opraph strikes again."

    Again, although you claim that this shouldn't have happened, YOU AGAIN BLAME THE VICTIM instead of the perpetrators of this travesty of justice: The police/sheriff's responsibility to properly log his arrest/incarceration and submit reports to the prosecutor; the prosecutor who, for whatever reason, never filed a timely complaint with the court; and the court system that should have followed up by making sure he was arraigned in a timely manner AS REQUIRED BY LAW.

    And lastly, "sob-sister" story, "yellow journalism", Opraph [sic] strikes again?

    My god, Jim, THE MAN WAS HELD ILLEGALLY FOR 13 MONTHS IN JAIL and you are so insensitive, heartless, and thoughtless as to use those words in describing the right of the victim AND the people in whose name this offense was committed to be informed of this travesty in the most pejorative and insulting manner possible?

    And you claim to be sorry for the man.

    Jim, your words ring as hollow as they possibly could. You claim to see and understand that a mistake was made and then make repeated and ever more callous statements about how it is the victims fault, as if he had free reign to do anything he wanted to bring this to a faster conclusion, when, clearly, the justice system failed the victim.

    There's no reason to respond to this, Jim, I will not address the subject again.

    You can argue facts, as I have here, but your opinion is YOUR opinion; you are entitled to it, but perhaps if you re-think this you may come to a different conclusion.

    I won't hold my breath.

    Amen! (5.00 / 1) (#18)
    by txpublicdefender on Fri Dec 01, 2006 at 05:24:01 PM EST
    Thank you for that!  None of this was the poor man's fault.  When the government chooses to use its awesome power to restrain someone's liberty by putting him in jail, it is the government's responsibility to follow the proper procedures to ensure something like this doesn't happen.  Those who failed in this responsibility are solely to blame for this travesty.

    As for the argument that the paper offers no "proof" of its claim that the individual is a legal resident, what, exactly, are they supposed to provide?  A picture of his green card?  I suppose they could be making up the whole damn story, quotes and all!  

    Parent

    Thanks ... (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by Sailor on Fri Dec 01, 2006 at 08:07:45 PM EST
    My BP would get to high if I tried to respond to his rant.

    Excellent, well thought out, reply. I'd like to think we respond to such comments because the point needs to be made, not because the commenter will change.

    Parent

    Sailor (1.00 / 0) (#32)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sat Dec 02, 2006 at 08:32:21 PM EST
    I exist to point out the truth. That you have difficulty with that and don't want to discuss some serious issues demonstrates only that you think the last election changed anything.

    It didn't.

    Ta Ta

    Parent

    Heh! (5.00 / 1) (#34)
    by Edger on Sat Dec 02, 2006 at 08:36:00 PM EST
    I exist to point out the truth.

    You do have a sense of humor after all.

    Parent

    You (5.00 / 1) (#35)
    by aw on Sat Dec 02, 2006 at 08:40:18 PM EST
    Wow, are you talking, like... (5.00 / 1) (#36)
    by Edger on Sat Dec 02, 2006 at 08:55:01 PM EST
    Bill A - To your 12:29 on 12/1 (1.00 / 1) (#27)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sat Dec 02, 2006 at 10:24:50 AM EST
    Missed this one yesterday, was going to ignore it but it is just so sideways I thought I would point out a few facts to your insults.

    First you have no more information as to his innocence as I do to his guilt. We both know he was arrested for aggravated battery, a fairly serious charge. Somehow I don't see the police just snatching him off the street.

    You ignored my comment in which I said he shouldn't have held illegaly.

    And no where in my comment did I forgive those who caused/contributed to this mess.

    Tell me, Bill. Why do you make up such claims when it is so easily demonstratable that you have made them up?

    And no, someone holding a Green card for 13 years doesn't have to learn english, but that is a requirement for citizenship. Somehow I don't think he really takes the idea of being a citizen very seriously.

    My points were, and remain, that we have a growing number of people within the country who cannot communicate to the government, and who, based on this example, are not trying to learn because they live in a fairly insular ghetto.

    At the beginning of the 20th century this led to the dependence on the Mafia for justice. We see it now forming in various groups who demand political obedience for "represntation." Neither case is good for the person or the country.

    As for your personal problem with the time involved, with your wife's son and his wife, I have no idea as to why it takes so long, but would guess it is partly because all of the resources spent on illegals.

    Either way, and despite your uninformed insults, I wish you well.

    Parent

    La la la la (5.00 / 1) (#28)
    by aw on Sat Dec 02, 2006 at 10:32:20 AM EST
    I can't hear you.

    Parent
    Adult (1.00 / 1) (#31)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sat Dec 02, 2006 at 08:30:48 PM EST
    aw - Nice. Are you still claiming to be an adult?

    Hugs and hugs

    Parent

    et al (1.00 / 2) (#8)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Dec 01, 2006 at 10:51:21 AM EST
    Perhaps he should have thought about his family before he:

    After being booked on Oct. 13, 2005, with aggravated battery after a street fight, Parra-Sanchez,

    And he definitely should not have been treated like he was.

    And perhaps he is a legal resident who has been been here for 13 years who can't speak enough English to tell someone he hasn't seen a judge.

    But one thing is for sure. We are allowing immigrants of both legal and illegal types into the country too fast if one with (obviously) no resources, can survive for 13 years without learning English.

    It is called "assimilation" folks. And if it isn't done you can expect some serious problems.

    BTW - I plead guilty to not reading, but assuming on the supposed legal status. The PI doesn't reference their sources, nor does the blog.

    I hope his experiences will convince him to return to his birth country where he will be able to communicate with his government, since he obviouly has no desire to do so with ours.

    And one other thing... If he was legal, and if his family was legal, why didn't they contact someone in CA?? I would guess there are numerous immigrant rights groups that would have been anxious to help.

    I would sure like to read "the rest of the story.
    "

    Lost prisoners (none / 0) (#1)
    by JSN on Fri Dec 01, 2006 at 07:58:15 AM EST
    I asked our jail administrator if the judges sometimes forgot the prisoner was in jail and he said no we keep reminding them. I asked one of the jail depties why a particular prisoner was still in jail and he said the judge wanted him to think. He must have been a slow thinker because he was there a long time.

    However if a clueless detainee tells one of our judges that they intend to defend themselves he will try talk them out of it. If that does not work he will let them sit in jail (usually less than a few days) until the the jail staff figures out what the problem is and gets the public defender to step in.

    Send him back. (1.00 / 1) (#2)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Dec 01, 2006 at 08:18:58 AM EST
    Let me ask some tough questions.

    But first, let me agree he should not have been kept in jail in such a manner.

    The post notes that he could not speak english, and had to do use a translator.

    Since a requirement for becoming a citizen is the ability to speak english, he must be an illegal alien.

    I trust he is now on his way back to Mexico.

    Parent

    Famous quotes by PPJ (none / 0) (#3)
    by aw on Fri Dec 01, 2006 at 08:55:28 AM EST
    Jimakappj - lern to reed (none / 0) (#4)
    by scribe on Fri Dec 01, 2006 at 09:22:48 AM EST
    And you might not make a spectacle of yourself.

    If you had bothered to actually read the whole Times-Picayune article linked to, you would have found that, miracle of miracles, Mr. Parra-Sanchez is "a legal resident of the US since 1989".

    Duh.

    Parent

    Is this a joke? (none / 0) (#5)
    by txpublicdefender on Fri Dec 01, 2006 at 09:22:51 AM EST
    Perhaps you are unaware of this thing we have in this country called legal permanent residency wherein one immigrates to this country legally, is granted permission to stay here permanently, but is not a U.S. citizen.  Some people refer to it as "having a green card."  

    As to the merits of the actual story, I once got a guy out of the Dallas County jail who had been there for 15 months without getting a lawyer or going to court, and he wasn't even charged with a crime.  It's shameful, but it happens.  And, at least in the case I was involved in, absolutely no one was ever held accountable for it.

    Parent

    Better? (1.00 / 2) (#10)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Dec 01, 2006 at 11:01:17 AM EST
    And perhaps you didn't read my note that NO was wrong.

    Better just to go off eh??

    Parent

    No, its no joke (none / 0) (#7)
    by Jen M on Fri Dec 01, 2006 at 10:12:36 AM EST
    Jim is a binary thinker. If the guy ain't a citizen he therefore MUST be an illegal alien. (and mexican, natch).

    Parent
    Legal?? (1.00 / 2) (#9)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Dec 01, 2006 at 10:59:45 AM EST
    Jen - Since all we have is the Times' info without back up, pardon me if I admit my mistake but note that newspapers have been wrong before...

    As for your snark, I'll just note that I expressed that this shouldn't have happened, while noting that the supposed victim contributed to the problem by not learning the language of the country he had lived in 13 years.

    And yes, I am capable, as the Left is not, of having sympathy for the victim while noting their contribution to the problem, and the long term impact these actions can have on society.

    Otherwise these things turn into a "sob-sister" story worthy of the days of "yellow journalism" or even more so, "Opraph strikes again."

    Parent

    PPJ (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by aw on Fri Dec 01, 2006 at 11:15:19 AM EST
    all we have is the Times' info without back up

    Why don't you write to them and demand a "link."

    Parent

    Why don't you? (1.00 / 0) (#22)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sat Dec 02, 2006 at 09:41:56 AM EST
    I don't particularly care either way, and besides, if I decide to correct all the media's mistakes and problems, the NYT's by itself would keep me busy just firing all those who leaked confidental information.

    aw, you love to snark, but fail to recognize the deeper, more complex and more serious problems. In this case it is the problem of a person being in this country for 13 years without learning enough english to communicate enough to tell someone one he needed to see a judge.

    Whose fault is that? Isn't true that if assimilation was working, the man would have known enough english for this not to happen?

    And then we have the fact that a very serious crime, aggravated battery is just being ignored. Does this man have a history of crimes such as this? What did he hit the other party with? Will he do it again? And if he does, who will be responsible for him not being penalized for the first effort. A penalty that might have reformed him.

    You appear absolutely incapable of any critical thought, and of actual problem recognition. Instead you snark and complain, lowering the discussion level to, at best, high school spohmore.

    Parent

    I (none / 0) (#25)
    by aw on Sat Dec 02, 2006 at 10:09:49 AM EST
    cower in wonderment and dread at your awesome intellect, PPJ.

    Parent
    Heh heh heh heh, hahahahaha ! (none / 0) (#26)
    by Edger on Sat Dec 02, 2006 at 10:14:29 AM EST
    Awwwwwwwwwwww, aw, jeez. Now I have coffee sprayed  all over the monitor!

    Parent
    Good morning, Edger (none / 0) (#29)
    by aw on Sat Dec 02, 2006 at 10:35:56 AM EST
    Glad I could help start your day off right.

    Parent
    I guess... (none / 0) (#30)
    by Edger on Sat Dec 02, 2006 at 10:51:53 AM EST
    ...he just can't help it. ;-)

    Parent
    aw and edger (1.00 / 0) (#33)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sat Dec 02, 2006 at 08:36:00 PM EST
    edger and aw - Glad I could provide you something to giggle over.

    Perhaps you can share it with the rest of the class during home room.

    And thanks for demonstrating a complete lack of mental depth.

    Parent

    I found it for him... (none / 0) (#12)
    by Edger on Fri Dec 01, 2006 at 11:35:27 AM EST
    Ha ha (none / 0) (#13)
    by aw on Fri Dec 01, 2006 at 11:39:13 AM EST
    I think my neighbor upstairs must think a hyena just broke in to my place.

    Parent
    I hope they (none / 0) (#14)
    by Edger on Fri Dec 01, 2006 at 11:41:13 AM EST
    like hyenas? ;-)

    Parent
    Well (none / 0) (#15)
    by aw on Fri Dec 01, 2006 at 11:47:55 AM EST
    they're a herd of elephants (not the political kind).

    Parent
    I know them. (none / 0) (#16)
    by Edger on Fri Dec 01, 2006 at 11:53:31 AM EST
    They live above me too.

    Parent
    You speak pf logic? (1.00 / 0) (#23)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sat Dec 02, 2006 at 09:49:51 AM EST
    No where in the comments is there any reference to a deaf man.

    Now, don't you think that would be such an important consideration that intelleigent people wouldn't leave it out. So you think all conversations must include all such items.

    Please. Consult with your high school teachers Monday morning and have them explain to you the sheer nonsense contained in your comment.

    Binary??? Your humor is unintended and at your expense.

    Parent

    c'mon (none / 0) (#21)
    by kdog on Sat Dec 02, 2006 at 09:18:12 AM EST
    Jim ol' buddy...just say this should never happen in the land of the free and leave it at that.  

    I grew up down the street from an old lady, immigrant from Italy, who never learned to speak English.  I just think "her loss" and leave it at that...I don't see it as the downfall of our society.

    Never learning to speak English is punishment enough...just makes it harder to get by.

    But again....I don't care if the guy speaks Klingon, this cannot happen if we are to remain a free society.  Period, case closed.

    Parent

    Kdog (1.00 / 0) (#24)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sat Dec 02, 2006 at 09:51:16 AM EST
    kdog - I said it should not happen.

    Do you see the wider issue?

    Parent

    Isn't the Tulane Clinic (none / 0) (#6)
    by scribe on Fri Dec 01, 2006 at 09:24:33 AM EST
    referenced here the same one the Supreme Court of Louisiana, working in service of the jailers, police and prosecutors, keeps trying to shut down?  

    By reinterpreting ethics and admissions rules and similar chicanery?