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Criminal clerk asks council to study courthouse renovation, seeks funds for damaged records and to continue expungement program
Summary
The criminal clerk outlined space constraints in the 1939 criminal district court building, requested a study of renovation or replacement, explained records-storage damage and restoration efforts, and urged continued funding for a free expungement program that has received substantial demand.
The Criminal Clerk told the City Council the historic criminal district court building was designed in 1939 for three court sections and is now functionally undersized for 12 sections, judicial administrative offices and supporting staff. The clerk urged the council to convene a study to evaluate renovating the interior or building a new criminal district court facility.
On budget and operations, the clerk said operating costs have been shifted into the clerk's budget, including offsite file storage and copy‑machine rentals previously covered by the city. The clerk requested $30,000 to hire a professional vendor to retrieve, clean and scan records that city public‑works staff inadvertently dumped and damaged during a removal; vendors have been engaged and cost estimates will be returned to the council for formal action.
The clerk highlighted a free‑expungement program supported by a mix of state and city funds. Using initial state funds the office performed about 157 expungements and reported 307 new requests overall, with roughly 167 requests within the Criminal District Court's jurisdiction; some individuals have sought multiple expungements. "That money is going to be gone really quick," the clerk said, urging continued allocation to sustain the program.
On elections, the clerk reiterated responsibilities for parish polling‑place placement and noted the office's role in responding to same‑day issues on election days. The clerk also said the office is preparing for new statewide machines and e‑poll books that could enable voting at any location during early voting.
Council members clarified that certain grants (including the expungement grant) may not be city‑managed and therefore might not appear in the city controlled budget; the clerk and budget staff said they would follow up with details. No formal vote resulted from the presentation.
