Long before 10 inmates escaped from the Orleans Parish jail, the lockup had a pattern of unmanned tiers, faulty cell locks and inmates wandering without supervision, detailed records from the past five years show.

The records paint a chaotic picture of violence, cellblock fires, smuggled-in drugs and other contraband. Dorms housing even the jail's most problematic inmates have had serious security breaches. Meanwhile, the front line deputies of Orleans Sheriff Susan Hutson’s undermanned and overwhelmed department have faced near-daily attacks or harassment.

Inmates attack, spit on, sexually harass or threaten jail staff — among other altercations — at a rate around three times a week, jail records show. They’re also often allowed to roam freely within housing units that have no gua

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