Persistent Challenges in the Special Victims Section Threaten Progress in Consent Decree
NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) is facing scrutiny as its clearance rate for rape cases has fallen to its lowest point in over a decade. For advocates like Julie Ford, this troubling trend signals that the NOPD’s long-running efforts to reform its sex crimes unit, under the oversight of a federal consent decree, have not been enough to address deep-seated issues. And with the department on the verge of winding down this reform agreement, the question arises: what does this mean for the future of sexual assault investigations in the city?
Ford’s curiosity about the NOPD’s handling of sexual violence cases began in 2018. She wanted to understand how her own case might fare in the larger context of the city’s broader criminal justice system. What she found shocked her. The department’s clearance rate for rape cases was below the national average, barely scraping the double digits. This discovery led her to dig deeper into the department’s practices and expose flaws within its Special Victims Section, the division tasked with investigating sexual crimes.
Six years later, Ford has become a watchdog of sorts, closely tracking the department’s performance and pushing for better practices. Her investigations have brought to light shocking discrepancies, including the recent revelation that NOPD had underreported hundreds of rape crimes to the FBI. While NOPD officials struggle to explain the causes behind the low clearance rate, Ford is clear: the problem lies in the severe understaffing of the unit. The department has yet to fill half of its detective positions, leaving a skeleton crew to tackle an overwhelming caseload.
The Declining Clearance Rate: A Reflection of Deeper Issues
In 2013, when the NOPD entered the federal consent decree aimed at reforming the department, the clearance rate for rape cases stood at 40%. But by 2023, this rate had plummeted to just 6.75%, a troubling drop that highlights the ongoing struggles within the Special Victims Section. With 681 reported rape cases last year, only 46 were cleared. This stark decline is well below the national average for police agencies, which currently hovers around 35%.
Ford points out that while staffing issues are at the core of the problem, the NOPD has long failed to address these concerns adequately. According to information provided to Ford by the department, detectives in the Special Victims Section are each managing an average of 74 cases, nearly double the recommended caseload. Ford also uncovered that half of the division’s detective positions are vacant, exacerbating an already strained situation.
A recent report submitted to the court overseeing the consent decree revealed that the division has been “constantly triaging” cases, prioritizing some over others due to limited resources. For Ford, these revelations paint a grim picture of a department that is unable to fully investigate all sexual assault cases, leaving survivors in the lurch.
Calls for Increased Transparency and Accountability
Ford is not alone in her concerns. Civil rights attorney Mary Howell, a longtime advocate for police reform in New Orleans, has worked with Ford to bring these issues to light. Together, they have drafted a list of questions and recommendations aimed at improving the NOPD’s handling of sex crimes. In a comment submitted to the judge overseeing the consent decree, Ford and Howell argue that unless the department addresses these chronic issues now, the reforms that have been put in place over the past decade will amount to little more than a superficial effort.
Howell, who has represented plaintiffs in numerous police misconduct cases, says the department’s inability to address staffing issues and improve its investigative processes is undermining public trust. “She wants this system to work,” Howell said of Ford. “She wants people who have been harmed to feel like they’ve been listened to and they’ve been heard.”
Ford and Howell have proposed several actionable changes, including a deeper analysis of the department’s staffing issues, improved transparency in data reporting, and bringing in outside experts to evaluate the Special Victims Section. They also call for the department to put existing reforms in writing to ensure that progress is made — and maintained.
The Consent Decree: Success or Setback?
As the NOPD and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) approach the end of their federal consent decree, many are questioning whether the reform efforts have truly succeeded. For years, the consent decree has aimed to address systemic issues within the department, but critics argue that the low clearance rate for rape cases is a sign that significant problems remain.
The NOPD’s ability to address these challenges will be closely scrutinized in the coming months. While the department has made strides in areas like officer training and use-of-force policies, it remains to be seen whether the department will be able to reform its approach to investigating sexual crimes. Ford’s work and that of other advocates will continue to play a pivotal role in holding the NOPD accountable for its actions.
The issue also raises broader questions about how law enforcement agencies across the U.S. handle sexual assault cases. As Ford has pointed out, the lack of resources and understaffing of specialized units is not unique to New Orleans — it’s a problem that plagues many departments. But in a city where sexual violence is a pervasive issue, the consequences of an ineffective police response are dire.
The future of the consent decree — and of sexual assault investigations in New Orleans — depends on whether the NOPD is willing to face these hard truths and take concrete steps toward reform. For Ford, Howell, and countless survivors, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
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