New Orleans Sheriff Susan Hutson was indicted Wednesday on 30 criminal counts, including malfeasance in office and payroll fraud, following an investigation into a major jailbreak at the city's jail facility.

The indictment was brought by Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill and stems from an investigation that began after 10 inmates escaped from the New Orleans jail in 2025. The charges include obstruction of justice and malfeasance in office related to Hutson's oversight of jail operations.

The timing of the indictment is notable, coming just days before Hutson was scheduled to leave office. Hutson, whose responsibilities include operating the New Orleans jail system, began her tenure as sheriff in 2022 after campaigning on promises of comprehensive criminal justice reform.

The state attorney general's office initiated the investigation following the mass escape incident, which prompted scrutiny of jail security protocols and administrative practices. The 30-count indictment represents one of the most significant criminal cases involving a New Orleans sheriff in recent years.

Hutson's term concludes amid the legal proceedings, marking an abrupt end to her reform-focused administration that had aimed to transform the troubled jail system that has faced federal oversight for years.