Watch as inmates escape from jail, through a wall and toilet
Video shows inmates escaped from the Orleans Parish Jail On May 16, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The inmates broke open a jail cell, ripped out a toilet, and escaped through a wall. Follow our new Instagram page.
The inmates escaped from the jail around 12 a.m. on May 16th. 8 hours later it was discovered that the incarcerated individuals were missing during a routine headcount conducted at 8:30 a.m. on May 16, 2025.
10 inmates escaped from the jail, although all of them are not pictured above. There were lapses in security that led to the jail escape.
While the facility was placed on lock-down at 10:30 p.m. the detainees were able to exit their cells due to defective locks and doors.
The detainees began tampering with a locked cell door, ultimately breaking it open.
A correctional monitoring technician in the control module room was present, but the detainees were able to breach a wall after ripping a toilet fixture out in their jail housing unit.
The detainees exited the jail through a door and began scaling a wall and running across the interstate shortly after.
Video surveillance confirms that they exited through a door in the docks where supplies are brought into the jail. The inmates received assistance from jail employees inside the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office.
The United States Marshals, Louisiana State Police, and Probation and Parole were notified by 9:30 a.m., and the New Orleans Police Department was alerted immediately afterwards. More jail breaks can be seen here.
This escape has highlighted several critical issues within the Orleans Parish Jail’s infrastructure. In addition to defective locks on the cells, approximately one third of the security cameras throughout the facility are currently inoperable.
These security breaches, combined with ongoing staffing shortages, have made it difficult to maintain the level of security required at the Orleans Parish Jail.
The facility is operating with insufficient staff to properly monitor all areas of the jail.
