By: Jasmine Franklin | wdsu.com | May 19, 2025
NEW ORLEANS —
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry issued multiple executive orders after 10 inmates escaped the Orleans Parish Jail early Friday morning.
In a news conference Sunday, Landry ordered an audit of the Orleans Correctional Facility by the Department of Corrections.
The audit would remove all DOC inmates and check the basic jail guidelines in the jail.
Landry also issued an executive order that would instruct the state inspector general to get inventory from the sheriff on all pretrial detainees and those awaiting sentences.
“Derrick Groves, the escapee who pled guilty to manslaughter in October of last year and was awaiting sentencing, if he would have been sentenced by a court system, he most likely would not have had an opportunity to escape,” Landry said.
According to Landry, once a person is booked, the case goes to Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams, but many of those cases are being dismissed, including four of the escaped inmates.
“Kendell Myles, Lenton Vanburen were charged with battery on correctional officers. Robert Moody, Jermaine Donald and Lenton Vanburen were charged with contraband in jail,” Landry said. “Prosecutors who are unprepared and delay cases for years must be addressed in this court system.”
Landry continued, asking Williams to explain why these cases are not progressing.
Landry also discussed the courts and judges issuing an executive order asking the new Judiciary Commission to establish triggers for investigation by them for high crimes in places such as New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Rapides and Caddo Parish.
The executive order will mandate the commission to specify specific review triggers, including reviewing the number of judge trials and acquittal rates in criminal court.
WDSU Investigative Anchor Travers Mackel reported on the concerns surrounding a New Orleans judge handling an unusually large number of judge trials and not using a jury to render a verdict.
Records from the Metropolitan Crime Commission show she performed 36 judge trials last year.
In the news conference, Landry stated that there should be an automatic review of any judge that has a disproportionate number of acquittals that are cases of clear evidence of guilt.
Landry stated that a request to the Louisiana Supreme Court was made for an in-depth review of the Orleans Criminal Court System.
WDSU reached out to Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson.
This is the sheriff’s office response:
“We appreciate the support of our fellow law enforcement and judicial system partners. Moments like this require coordination, communication, and shared responsibility across agencies. With that, I acknowledge and respect Governor Jeff Landry’s decision to initiate a comprehensive audit following the recent escape of ten inmates.
In addition to the immediate actions already taken under my leadership, I view the Governor’s audit as another necessary step toward transparency. But it is equally critical that we recognize the longstanding, systemic challenges that have impacted this facility for years, challenges I have been working to address since the beginning of my tenure.”
WDSU has also reached out to Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams for a comment on Landry’s statements, we are waiting for a response.