Crime numbers in Shreveport have gone down dramatically over the past year. The experts point to several reasons for the dip. One key element is the use of more technology in our neighborhoods. Things like cameras and drones have helped assist police in catching the bad guys.
Are We Seeing Improvements in the Courts?
But we also have to hope the change is also happening on the judicial side of the equation. Caddo District Attorney James Stewart is widely criticized for being “soft on crime”. But is he? The latest numbers suggest something completely different. The State Supreme Court issues a detailed report each year on the activities of the courts across the state. The numbers for 2024 show Caddo is one of the top 3 parishes in the state for bringing cases to a jury trial.
The numbers show there were 60 jury trials conducted in Caddo District Court last year. The top parish for jury trials is Orleans which held 145 jury trials and Jefferson is 2nd with 76 jury trials.
But you have to consider Jefferson Parish has more than 400,000 residents while the Caddo Parish population is about 250,000. Orleans Parish has about 350,000 residents. Both of those larger parishes also have twice as many judges handling criminal court cases…