Two inmates were stabbed inside the Orleans Parish Jail on Sunday night, according to officials, setting off a fresh round of security questions at a facility already under the microscope. Both inmates received medical treatment, and one was taken to a hospital before being returned to the jail. In the aftermath, deputies swept through the housing unit where the fight broke out and pulled contraband during what officials called a targeted shakedown.
Shakedown After Fight Captured On Camera
The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office said a special response unit of deputies carried out a comprehensive shakedown of the housing unit after the incident, according to FOX 8. The station reported that the stabbings were carried out with a homemade weapon, that one of the inmates alerted staff after being wounded and that one was briefly hospitalized before being brought back to the facility. Investigators have not said whether any additional charges will follow.
Jail Still Under Scrutiny After Mass Escape And Audit
The timing is rough for the Orleans Justice Center, which is still facing intense scrutiny after last year’s mass escape and the special grand jury indictment of the sheriff, as reported by The Associated Press. A legislative audit released earlier this year found staffing shortfalls and missed security checks that auditors said created serious vulnerabilities at the lockup. WLOX details those audit findings.
Investigations And What To Watch
So far, investigators have not released the names of the inmates involved or announced any formal charges, and they say the probe is still ongoing, FOX 8 reported. Incidents like this are not unheard of at the jail and have previously triggered similar crackdowns. After an earlier fight that sent several inmates to the hospital, deputies again carried out a shakedown, and families were notified and offered virtual calls, according to WDSU.
