NEW ORLEANS — Dr. Peter Scharf, a nationally recognized leader in corrections and crime, died Sunday night at the age of 78, after a brief illness in the hospital.
He founded The Center for Society, Law and Justice at UNO, and was a court expert in the field of use of force.
In Hurricane Katrina's aftermath, he worked with the White House on criminal justice. He was on the faculty of Tulane and currently at LSU Health Sciences Center.
Those who worked with him say he made an impact.
“On his death bed, on this man's death bed, this man was talking to me about what's going on in this city. How can this city get better. What do I think, right? That was the kind of man this man was, completely selfless. That's how I want to die. I want to die just like that, being concerned about others,” said Ameer Baraka, who is currently working on Tyler Perry’s hit show, Zatima.
After Hurricane Katrina, the actor, producer, writer met nationally renowned criminologist Dr. Peter Scharf.
“He introduced me to everybody, with no shame or trepidation. I was an ex-con, and he was just bringing me around because he saw something in me.”
The two became inseparable. The man who had been to prison, and the Ph.D., who studied that pathway to prison, spent nearly 20 years trying to keep people from the life that leads you there.
“And he would come into the school, you know, suit jacket on, and sit in the class. I would take him to the projects. He loved going to the projects. We would just sit in the projects. He wanted to understand the thinking of people,” remembers Baraka.
They talked in jails and classrooms.
“It did not matter if you didn't have a mom, or you didn't have a dad, it's about you taking responsibility, and seeing the value within yourself,” said Baraka.
And they put on programs in police departments.
“He knew the law. I had studied racial bias, and emotional intelligence. So, I would teach that component,” said Baraka.
Every other Saturday, Peter gathered academic professionals, like Dr. Rahn Kennedy Bailey, head of LSU Health Psychiatry, to find solutions to the violence.
“I clearly think that his heart was in the right place. He was passionate, I think, about people, about their lives, about their safety. He really felt I think the issues were real for him, and really brought that to the equation of his professional work,” said Dr. Bailey, who is also the Assistant Dean for Community Engagement at LSU School of Medicine.
And it was in the Subway restaurant on Carrollton Avenue, where Peter and Ameer met on Fridays, to help the man, who at one time could not read because of dyslexia, become a movie writer of “NOLA Life.”. He also helped him become a published autobiographer. His book is: The Life I Chose, The Streets Lied to Me.
“He was like a father to me, because when I was wrong, Peter corrected me in love. And there was one time I was wrong, real big time, and Peter said, ‘Listen, I need you to go back over there and apologize right now.’ I mean, this man, this man loved me,” said Ameer.
Mayor LaToya Cantrell today issued the following statement on the passing of Dr. Peter Scharf:
"I would like to extend my deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Dr. Peter Scharf," said Mayor LaToya Cantrell.
"The City of New Orleans lost a devoted public servant whose extensive knowledge helped foster a justice system that is more accountable, coordinated, equitable and effective. As a renowned criminologist, professor and founding director of the University of New Orleans’ Center for Society, Law and Justice, the legacy that Dr. Scharf leaves behind is seen every day not only in the lives of the students he so positively impacted but also in the overall public safety policies and practices in place today. His dedication, professionalism and service to our City will always be remembered. May he rest in God's perfect peace."
Steve Nelson, MD, LSU Health New Orleans Interim Chancellor issued this statement:
“Dr. Peter Scharf, an accomplished member of the faculty of LSU Health New Orleans’ Schools of Medicine and Public Health, passed away after a brief illness on August 27, 2023. One of the country’s leading experts in corrections criminal justice research, field assessments, performance metrics, police deadly force training, and the public health aspects of crime, Dr. Scharf dedicated his life to studying and educating everyone from students to policymakers, law enforcement and the public to develop and implement strategies and policies to prevent or reduce crime.”
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