Leading Prosecutor Suggests Escaped New Orleans Inmates Could Be in Other Cities: “They Can’t Hide Forever”
Jailbreak in New Orleans: A Close Look at the Orleans Parish Prison Escape
In a remarkable turn of events, eight out of ten inmates from Orleans Parish Prison have been recaptured following their daring escape on May 16. The jailbreak went unnoticed for hours, sparking questions about security lapses and operational inefficiencies at the facility. Most were found within Louisiana, including the city’s famous French Quarter, while two made it as far as Texas before being apprehended by U.S. Marshals, authorities confirmed on Tuesday.
Attorney General Murrill noted that the escapees’ networks are primarily based in New Orleans, making it challenging for them to evade capture for long. “They can keep running, but they can’t hide forever,” she asserted, expressing confidence that the remaining fugitives would soon be brought back into custody.
The jailbreak has been labeled by Governor Jeff Landry as one of the most significant in recent state history, prompting an extensive investigation. At least 13 individuals have been arrested in connection to the escape, shedding light on a web of issues plaguing the prison system. Murrill highlighted several contributing factors, such as court delays and infrastructure shortcomings, with overcrowding being a critical concern due to slow-moving cases in the district’s courts.
Security camera malfunctions further complicated matters. One-third of the jail’s cameras weren’t operational at the time of the escape, according to the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office. Despite this, a surveillance video managed to capture key moments: inmates forcing open a cell door shortly after midnight and breaching a wall behind a toilet to make their exit via a loading dock around 1 a.m.
The sheriff’s office was unaware of the escape until 8:30 a.m., revealing that no deputy was stationed near where the jailbreak began. The locks on cells were found to be defective-a fact compounded by ongoing renovations that necessitated relocating prisoners to units with outdated security measures.
Murrill visited the jail and observed that some units had received new hinges and locks, yet approximately 160 cells still required similar upgrades. She emphasized the need for improvements at multiple levels: “Physical changes like light bulbs and locks are needed,” she stated, “but efficiently moving cases is essential to prevent violent inmates from exploiting any weaknesses.”
The jail also reported “significant flooding” problems post-escape due to lingering plumbing issues. Emergency repairs over the weekend have not fully resolved these challenges, leading officials to seek external water supplies temporarily.
The history of dysfunction at this correctional facility stretches back decades. Overcrowding was declared unconstitutional by a federal judge in 1970; Hurricane Katrina in 2005 left inmates stranded in dire conditions; and more recently, videos surfaced showing inmates engaging in illegal activities within its walls.
Despite opening a new facility in 2015 designed to house nearly 1,400 inmates, significant issues persisted-particularly regarding supervision and housing for mentally ill inmates. Following this latest incident, Gov. Landry ordered all remaining state Department of Corrections prisoners removed from Orleans Parish Prison.
Sheriff Susan Hutson took full accountability for the escape and announced she would pause her reelection campaign to focus on enhancing security and public safety measures. When asked about preventing future incidents, Murrill commented that jail officials must ensure their facilities are suited to their populations while urging community involvement in advocating for improved leadership and efficiency within both the facility and court systems.
For more details, see this background on crime trends.
