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Sheriff outlines OPSO capital, cyber and consent-decree work; advocates raise visitation delays
Summary
Sheriff Susan Hudson told the council that OPSO is using bond funds for critical life-safety and technology upgrades, is rebuilding after a September cyberattack and is continuing consent-decree compliance work; OPSO also revised attorney and provider visit scheduling to manage limited visiting spaces.
Sheriff Susan Hudson presented Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office (OPSO) goals for 2026, emphasizing capital projects to repair locks, improve HVAC and lighting, and modernize control systems. The sheriff said bond-funded projects (about $15M previously allocated) are under way for life-safety systems, technology and ADA retrofits and that the office is rebuilding IT infrastructure after a September 2025 cyberattack.
Consent decree and readiness: OPSO's compliance status with the federal consent decree was reviewed; the sheriff said substantial and partial compliance has been achieved for many provisions but staffing and infrastructure remain priorities for full compliance.
Visitation policy change: OPSO circulated an attorney-visitation notice effective Oct. 21 asking attorneys (and non-attorney visitors such as caseworkers and some advocates) to schedule visits through an OPSO email address to manage limited physical space and reduce contraband. Advocates and the public defender's office reported that scheduling delays have made it harder for caseworkers, social workers and interpreters to meet detained clients promptly; OPSO responded that it is ready to accommodate urgent needs and that virtual visits and a phased facility (phase 3) will expand capacity.
Cyber recovery: OPSO reported servers were compromised in a September attack, with about 650 workstations affected; the office is rebuilding systems with state GOSEP assistance and set a Jan. 26 go-live date for a new jail-management system.
Bottom line: The sheriff asked for continued capital and operating cooperation to finish facility modernization and cyber recovery. Defense and social-service providers asked OPSO to ensure scheduling does not create substantive delays for mental-health treatment and attorney access.
