Mass Prison Break in New Orleans: Five Still at Large

Ten Inmates Escape Louisiana Prison; Five Recaptured A major jailbreak occurred on May 21, 2025, at the Orleans Parish Prison in New Orleans, Louisiana. Ten inmates escaped, prompting a large-scale manhunt. As of May 25th, five inmates have been apprehended, while the search for the remaining five continues. Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson addressed the incident at a City Council meeting, stating, "There were procedural failures and missed notifications, but there were also intentional wrongdoings." She acknowledged that security checks were skipped or incomplete and that early warning signs were missed. The escape has raised serious questions about prison security protocols. The Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections has dispatched ten seasoned auditors to the Orleans Justice Center to investigate the incident. The audit will focus on jail operations, security, staffing, and policies. Despite the seriousness of the situation, the sheriff's office notes that the jail remains operational at 60% staffing capacity. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to ensure such an incident does not happen again.