By Isabelle Wilson-
Police are searching for a woman who they say escaped while being sentenced in court. Jada Landry(pictured) fled custody while in court being sentenced for aggravated battery. She exited the courthouse and fled the area in a vehicle, according to the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office (IPSO). The vehicle has since been located.
Deputies and officers with the New Iberia Police Department are actively searching the surrounding area for Landry.
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Jada Landry(pictured) is a 27-year-old from New Iberia, Louisiana, was in custody and being sentenced in a court in Iberia Parish when she fled from custody during her sentencing hearing.
She was being sentenced for aggravated battery, which generally refers to a more serious form of assault involving significant injury or a weapon.
According to law enforcement reports, Landry exited the courthouse and fled the area in a vehicle. Authorities later located the vehicle and are actively searching for her and asking the public for information.
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This charge carries significant penalties and is treated more seriously than simple battery.
Escapes from custody — especially from courtrooms or jails — are not unheard of, but they’re relatively rare and usually receive significant media attention when they happen:
Nationwide data show escape offenses (from custody of all sorts) are a very small fraction of criminal cases processed in U.S. courts. For example, one federal justice report notes only 287 escape offenses out of more than 61,000 cases in one recent fiscal year (about 0.5%).
Most escape incidents involve people walking away from non-secure custody (e.g., minimum-security facilities or supervision centers), and a large share are recaptured.
Many escapes are opportunistic and non-violent, not elaborate planned breakouts.
Most escapees are eventually captured, often within a short time.
Highly publicized escapes (like dramatic prison breaks) are rare compared with the number of total inmates in custody. Being in secure custody with officers present
Such events are usually immediate priorities for local law enforcement and widely reported because they involve someone escaping just as they were being formally sentenced.
Most criminal defendants appear in court under guard, and security is designed to prevent escapes.
Courtroom escapes tend to get notable attention precisely because they are not typical — most defendants either comply or are already securely held.
When inmates or defendants do escape -whether from jail, court, or transport- they prompt manhunts and additional charges for escape on top of the original offense.
Members of the public who have any information on her whereabouts, are strongly advised not to approach her, but rather to submit an anonymous tip through our app or contact our dispatch office immediately at (337) 369-3711.
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