Several families of prisoners held at the Orleans Parish jail reached out to WDSU regarding the worsening conditions within the facility, which are believed to have declined after an escape occurred on May 16th.
Frequent complaints have arisen regarding intermittent water shortages at the facility, which has resulted in problems with the toilets. These toilet malfunctions can cause clogs and generate unpleasant odors, possibly escalating into conflicts within the premises.
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Shay O’Connor from WDSU spoke with prisoners and relatives of other detainees at the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office.
The relatives expressed their wish that these problems do not continue.
“What else can they do to raise attention and ensure people care? The scenario would be grim if their lack of concern continues,” stated the sibling of an OJC prisoner.
The mother of an inmate from the Orleans Justice Center stated, “Ever since some prisoners escaped, it appears they’re taking their frustration out on everybody inside. However, not all individuals deserve this treatment.”
After receiving numerous reports of sporadic water supply issues at the jail throughout the weekend and extending into this week, WDSU reported an account from an incarcerated individual inside the facility who stated:
We haven’t had running water for three days now. We’re unable to take showers, brush our teeth, or even wash our faces. They expect us to sleep in rooms that smell awful.
OPSO mentioned that they needed to turn off the water supply for some hours on Saturday until the water was reinstated on Sunday because of a leakage issue.
They mentioned that further leaks detected internally led to turning off the hot water supply at the jail once more on Monday. They also cited low water pressure at OJC due to sewer and waterline work conducted by the Sewerage and Waterboard in the surrounding area.
Full OJC statement here:
The Orleans Justice Center did not remain devoid of water throughout the entire weekend.
Last weekend, multiple significant plumbing problems came to light, underscoring critical weaknesses in the infrastructure.
This situation underscores Sheriff Hutson’s ongoing push for more funds to bring about comprehensive upgrades and update the Orleans Justice Center, enhancing both security and efficiency for everyone involved—those who reside there as well as those who work there. It is essential that our community members be treated with respect and provided a secure environment, just as our employees should have access to a dependable place of work.
On late Saturday night, water supply to parts of the facility needed to be briefly halted because of a substantial leak inside the wall, posing risks of flooding and inconvenience for residents. The maintenance crew swiftly located the issue and resumed water services by Sunday afternoon. However, more leaks were discovered within the walls leading to additional localized flooding, necessitating another short-term shutdown of hot water earlier today. During this time, residents consistently received an uninterrupted flow of potable water, along with supplies like ice and assistance for personal hygiene needs.
Adding complexity, the street work being carried out by the Sewerage & Water Board continues to affect variable water pressure. Despite this, we remain dedicated to reducing inconvenience for locals and guaranteeing prompt recovery. All known leak repairs have been arranged.
The Orleans Justice Center remains operational despite significant pressure caused by prolonged underfunding and overcrowding. These present circumstances underscore the critical necessity for extra financial support and strategic long-term plans to ensure a secure, compassionate, and efficiently run institution.
Relatives mentioned that they are experiencing unpleasant odors and feeling frustrated due to these problems.
“I’ve heard they’re using bags for the restroom because the toilets are clogged, making it impossible to use them properly. The inmates have reportedly hung these bags from walls. It’s also mentioned that people are tossing items at each other frequently. There seem to be many conflicts as everybody is extremely tense and agitated,” shared a sibling of one incarcerated individual.
Jail officials have also emphasized their repeated requests for additional funds to address these ongoing problems.
They asserted that people within were provided with water, ice, and hygiene assistance, whereas documentation of every leak inside the premises was planned.
Families have informed us that following the escape, it has been difficult to communicate with their relatives who remain inside.
WDSU has discovered that the escaping prisoners had orchestrated their getaway via external communications. It remains unclear whether these limitations on communication were implemented because of this incident.
WDSU similarly contacted the Sewerage and Water Board regarding the street work that was affecting the water pressure. The organization provided this statement:
On Monday, May 26, our teams performed maintenance on water supply lines in the Perdido area. Currently, we do not have any documented complaints about reduced water pressure at the Orleans Parish Jail. For further examination, we require precise locations along with the periods during which these lower pressures were experienced.
If you’re facing any issues with your water or sewer systems, kindly reach out to 52-Water, and we’ll dispatch an inspector for evaluation. This helpline operates round-the-clock throughout the entire year.
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Inmates at OJC voice concerns over plumbing problems and sporadic water supply issues.
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