(The Center Square) — Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry ordered the Louisiana State Police on Friday to investigate Orleans Parish Criminal Court case files which were dumped in a landfill.
“The disposing of these case files is a disgusting abuse of power and a slap in the face to crime victims,” Landry said in a statement. “Those who participated in this deliberate crime must be held accountable. I am confident the LSP investigation will assist in our efforts to uphold public trust in our criminal justice system, while also leading to answers and prosecutions.”
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Once the investigation ends, paperwork will be sent to Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill.
In a letter to Col. Robert Hodges, the commander of the Louisiana State Police, Landry said he wants the investigation to be completed quickly so those individuals responsible can be prosecuted and held accountable.
Despite lower crime rates, Orleans Parish’s justice system is having issues.
On May 16, 10 inmates at the Orleans Parish Jail escaped after removing a toilet and burrowing through a hole in the wall, even writing “to [sic] easy LOL” as a bit of parting graffiti. All but one were later recaptured.
Court records reviewed by The Center Square show a pattern in which defendants in Orleans Parish initially facing multiple felony weapons charges have had the vast majority of those charges dismissed, often as part of plea deals that result in minimal jail time and little long-term supervision.
Meanwhile, the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s office, led by District Attorney Jason Williams, revealed last week that they have refused nearly 40% of felony cases in the last year.