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Advisory opinion as to whether Susan Lindsey may be employed with the Orleans Parish Prison (OPP) after her retirement with the Department of Corrections. |
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Ms. Lindsey recently retired from her position with the Department of Corrections where she was the Regional Administrator of the Division of Probation and Parole, Region 3. Her duties included supervising district administrators throughout the region (Amite, Covington, Jefferson, Thibodaux, and New Orleans) where she measured and reported on outcomes based on performance standards, and represented the Department of Corrections, Division of Probation and Parole in the community.
As part of her role, she was engaged in many initiatives that advance the Department's dedication to successful prisoner reentry. The Department has numerous cooperative endeavor agreements with the OPP, including agreements for housing prisoners, pre-release services, and post-release sanction center. In Ms. Lindsey's capacity as a Regional Administrator, she worked to help implement, improve, and facilitate reentry and rehabilitation programs with the OPP - from the standpoint of coordinating community supervision and services with programs and treatment during incarceration and during intermediate sanctions options with the prison (the New Orleans Day Reporting Center). Upon retirement, she is considering a role with the OPP to assist with the above described projects, if even in the capacity of an advisor.
As a supervisor for the Department of Corrections, Ms. Lindsey directly supervised six district managers. The district managers, in turn, supervised the persons within their office. Ms. Lindsey also directly supervised an administrative assistant and program manager. Neither she, nor the persons she supervised had duties or responsibility for the program with which Ms. Lindsey will be working with the OPP, but she did utilize the services, and she did help develop the program by visiting the Reentry Center and conducting meetings/offering suggestions/strategies for improvement.
The Southeast Reentry Center is a program funded through Sheriff's Housing money entrusted to the Secretary of Corrections, which is monitored by Rhett Covington, and there is a business agreement outlining the outcomes and funding of the pre-release program. No person in the Sheriff's Office has been in Ms. Lindsey or Probation and Parole's chain of command. The relationship between the DOC and the OPP has been as partners to mutually benefit from pre-release services and a seamless model to enhance supervision and best outcomes for convicted/release offenders. As a long time advocate of pro-active solutions to crime and recidivism, Ms Lindsey worked with the city and community to develop such partnerships and according to her opinion request, her involvement in the Orleans Sheriff's program is important to its sustainability.
Ms. Lindsey stated that she has no agreement with the Sheriff, as she has been waiting on an opinion from the Board of Ethics to make certain it would be allowable. Ms Lindsey and the OPP are discussing a part time role for her to oversee the program, that it meets all DOC requirements, and personally, she would like to further the community involvement to enhance the success of the program and its graduates. For example she is meeting with business leaders who will hire ex-offender graduates so they can live legal lives.
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Section 1102(3) defines "agency head" as the chief executive or administrative officer of an agency or any member of a board or commission.
Section 1121A(1) of the Code states that no former agency head shall for a period of two years following the termination of his public service as the head of such agency, assist another person, for compensation, in a transaction, or in an appearance in connection with a transaction involving that agency or render any service on a contractual basis for such agency.
Section 1102 (16) of the Code defines person as an individual or legal entity other than a governmental entity or agency thereof.
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Adopt proposed advisory opinion
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| Assigned Attorney: |
Brent Durham |
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