NEW ORLEANS (AP) - In a city notorious for its troubled past, the party atmosphere that once permeated the streets has now infiltrated the Louisiana prison system. Over a decade ago, shocking footage circulated online, showcasing inmates in a New Orleans jail indulging in alcohol, drugs, and even handling firearms. These videos were pivotal in catalyzing a 2013 court order aimed at instituting reforms within a notoriously violent jail that symbolizes the crime and corruption ingrained in New Orleans.
Despite the passage of twelve years and the expenditure of tens of millions of dollars, the promised reforms remain largely unfulfilled, even under federal judicial oversight. The most recent upheaval occurred last week when a single civilian guard temporarily left the prison to procure food, allowing ten inmates to exploit a faulty cell door, extricate a toilet, and flee through a hole created by cut steel bars. The escape unfolded unnoticed, with no immediate alert to the public or law enforcement, leading to a chaotic manhunt involving approximately 200 federal, state, and local officers.
This episode of dysfunction is not new; it has persisted through generations and continued post-2015, despite the opening of the Orleans Justice Center, a $150 million facility that was touted as a solution to the systemic issues plaguing its predecessor. From the outset, the new jail faced significant oversight challenges, including inadequate supervision and insufficient housing for mentally ill inmates. Rafael Goyeneche, president of the Metropolitan Crime Commission, highlighted that while the facility boasts 900 cameras, their effectiveness is undermined when no one monitors them.
The recent escape from jail underscores ongoing issues highlighted by an independent jail monitor, who noted inadequate staffing and lax supervision. The number of so-called "internal escapes" has surged within the last two years, highlighting the facility's inability to effectively manage an inmate population close to 1,400. Despite the monitoring reports’ warnings, the prevailing excuse for lapses in policy was attributed to staffing and training deficiencies, which the monitor deemed unacceptable.
Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson initially shifted the blame for the escape, suggesting it might be politically motivated amid her election campaign but later accepted full accountability during a City Council meeting. She indicated a dire need for financial resources to address outdated surveillance equipment, aging infrastructure, blind supervision spots, and significant staff shortages. However, the City Council expressed concerns regarding the substantial public funding the jail has already received without adequate oversight.
In a startling admission, Hutson stated that she “cannot guarantee” that inmates would not be left unattended in the future. She emphasized that conditions at the jail remain unchanged, echoing past sentiment about the persistent state of the facility.
The jailbreak has reignited scrutiny around the inhumane conditions that have endured for decades, exacerbating a history of neglect that is particularly pronounced in a state notorious for its high incarceration rates. In 2016, conditions had become so dire that Sheriff Hutson’s predecessor, Marlin Gusman, was stripped of control over the jail, a move that was made to avoid federal takeover. Inmate testimonies from years past reveal that as time progresses, the conditions worsened, comparing the past era of inmates roaming freely within the prison to the current state of affairs.
The judicial system's intervention began as far back as 1970 when a federal judge ruled the Orleans Parish Prison unconstitutional, citing cruel and unusual punishment. Subsequent lawsuits highlighted grave issues, including the shackling of female inmates during childbirth and systemic violence leading to fatal incidents, such as the beating death of an inmate by deputies in 2004.
In 2013, national attention was drawn to the jail when a class-action lawsuit resulted in a consent decree, a comprehensive plan aiming to reform policies and improve conditions within the facility. However, earlier recorded footage depicting the chaotic environment among inmates wandered beyond mere anecdotal evidence and revealed deeper systemic issues, persisting well into the present day.
