Ten inmates managed to escape, leaving taunting messages behind as the jailbreak ignited a firestorm of criticism directed at Sheriff Susan Hutson. The case highlights growing concerns about the impact of progressive criminal justice reforms on public safety and especially jail security. How does the community feel about criminals back in their neighborhood?
Progressive Sheriff’s Jail Suffers Dramatic Breakout
Ten inmates including four charged with murder escaped from the New Orleans jail in a brazen jailbreak that has shocked the community and triggered a massive manhunt. The escapees crawled through a hole behind a toilet and scaled a barbed wire fence, leaving behind taunting messages like “To Easy LOL” and “WE INNOCENT” written on the jail walls.
The jailbreak occurred under the watch of Sheriff Susan Hutson, who was elected in 2021 as what supporters called “America’s first progressive sheriff” despite having no previous law enforcement experience. Hutson previously worked as an “independent police monitor” and ran on a platform of reforming the criminal justice system with progressive policies.
NEW: Photo shows hole through which inmates escaped at New Orleans jail.
"To easy lol," says one of the messages left on the wall. 10 inmates are still at large. pic.twitter.com/lAc4lynIhw
— BNO News Live (@BNODesk) May 16, 2025
Governor Takes Action Against “Progressive Promises”
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has been vocal in his criticism of the jail’s leadership, directly linking the escape to progressive criminal justice policies. “The irony of the progressive promises that have been made to this city is clear,” Landry stated, “New Orleans handed the jail keys to those who vowed to keep criminals out of jail, and sadly, today we see that it worked.”
Landry has issued an executive order to audit the Orleans Correctional Facility and remove Department of Corrections inmates from the facility. He has also warned that anyone aiding the fugitives would face jail time, stating, “We’re gonna hunt these folks down, we’re gonna find them, and we’re gonna bring them back to a jail that they can’t break out of.”
New Orleans jail employee arrested after allegedly helping 10 inmates escape, Investigators say Sterling Williams turned off the water in the cell after inmates asked him to. Instead of reporting them, he turned off water.
Charged with principle to escape and malfeasance. pic.twitter.com/qeJYwB6p62
— My Mixtapez (@mymixtapez) May 20, 2025
Outside Influence and Inside Help Suspected
Hutson’s election came after significant financial support from out-of-state sources, including PACs associated with progressive billionaire George Soros and organizations co-founded by Mark Zuckerberg. Critics point to approximately $160,000 in funding from Soros-affiliated PACs that helped elect a sheriff with no law enforcement background to oversee a major metropolitan jail.
Authorities now suspect the escape was coordinated with inside help, noting a civilian employee was absent during the incident. Sheriff Hutson herself suggested the escape was coordinated and that detainees received assistance from inside the department, raising questions about hiring practices and staff vetting under her administration.
As of the latest reports, four of the ten escapees have been recaptured, but seven dangerous fugitives remain at large, including suspects charged with serious violent crimes. Authorities have placed $20,000 bounties on each fugitive and believe most are still in the New Orleans area, working with local, state, and federal partners to locate and apprehend them before they can harm others.