A shocking video released in court Tuesday appears to show New Orleans inmates brazenly doing cocaine and heroin on camera, gambling and even brandishing a gun -- all while behind bars.
U.S. District Judge Lance Africk released the controversial video as part of a weeklong federal hearing to discuss the fate of repairs to Orleans Parish Prison, according to WDSU. In the video below, inmates can be seen drinking beer, injecting drugs and flashing a gun.
It's unclear when the video was recorded.
For years, the prison has been hit with allegations of fights, sexual assaults and drug use among inmates. Some legal experts told WDSU that the use of contraband in the prison is so public, it's possible that prisoners had help from jail staff in obtaining it.
Africk also released two other videos. One appears to capture dilapidated conditions in the prison, while another shows an inmate roaming around Bourbon Street, even though he was supposed to be behind bars.
Not surprisingly, inmate advocates and attorneys at the hearing were appalled when they saw the video. If Africk passes a federal measure on the table this week, there would be widespread mandatory changes at the jail, including increased staffing and training, according to the Times-Picayune.
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