Fire on the Levee: What Katrina Taught Us About Criminal Justice Reform
After striking Louisiana two decades ago, Hurricane Katrina remains among the deadliest US natural disasters, forever changing American attitudes on issues ranging from disaster preparedness to infrastructure. However, an event of such magnitude oftentimes has overlooked impacts, which in Katrina’s case was that on criminal justice reform. This was elucidated in a recent event by the Vanderbilt Project on Prosecution Policy and the Justice Innovation Lab, which highlighted how the aftermath of Katrina spurred conversations and action related to reforming local and state justice systems. The book the event covered, Jared Fishman’s Fire on the Levee: The Murder of Henry Glover and the Search for Justice After Hurricane Katrina, serves not only as a poignant reminder of how our justice system fails in the face of tragedy, but also how it can use its past failings to inform more equitable solutions.
The Vanderbilt Project on Prosecution Policy (VPOPP), led by Professor Alissa Heydari, is a nonpartisan network of prosecutors, researchers, students, and other stakeholders dedicated to improving individual and collective outcomes in the criminal justice system. In addition to hosting events for undergraduate and law students, VPOPP hosts a podcast, True Bill Talk, where experienced guests explore the reality of prosecution in America. Their September 10 event drew in over 50 aspiring JD candidates and community members interested in hearing how this natural disaster became a pivotal reflection point in the path towards equitable justice.
Jared Fishman, who now runs the Justice Innovation Lab, was serving as a prosecutor with the Department of Justice when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. Starting in February 2009, he conducted an 18-month investigation into unusual circumstances around a man’s death and the role law enforcement played in covering it up. On the panel, Fishman was joined by Special Agent Ashley Johnson, the other lead investigator in this case.
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