Will Katrina Pardon Thousands of Criminals?

Lowell over at Hedgehog Blog (a fellow SCBA blogger) posted an interesting email from a legal colleague who was formerly in New Orleans. A couple of paragraphs caught my eye:

Our state supreme court is under some water - with all appellate files and evidence folders/boxes along with it. The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals building is under some water - with the same effect. Right now there may only be 3-4 feet of standing water but, if you think about it, most files are kept in the basements or lower floors of courthouses. What effect will that have on the lives of citizens and lawyers throughout this state and this area of the country? And on the law?

The city and district courts in as many as 8 parishes/counties are under water, as well as 3 of our circuit courts - with evidence/files at each of them ruined. The law enforcement offices in those areas are under water - again, with evidence ruined. 6,000 prisoners in 2 prisons and one juvenile facility are having to be securely relocated. We already have over-crowding at most Louisiana prisons and juvenile facilities. What effect will this have? And what happens when the evidence in their cases has been destroyed? Will the guilty be released upon the communities? Will the innocent not be able to prove their innocence?

I must admit I hadn't thought about the impact of the hurricane on pending legal cases, but this could be devastating for the cities and parishes affected. There may be a bunch of bad guys who will get their charges dismissed due to a lack of evidence, or as the email points out, others who may not be able to prove their innocence.

Just trying to salvage legal and business records will be a nightmare.