The recent escape of 10 individuals from the New Orleans Correctional Center has quickly shifted from a public-safety crisis to a political flashpoint. While details are still emerging, the public and media have zeroed in on Sheriff Susan Hutson, with demands for her resignation. Hutson has taken full responsibility—acknowledging that anything that happens under her roof ultimately falls on her. The Politics of Public FearPredictably, political hopefuls are using the jailbreak as a platform for their campaigns. Yet few are willing to address how deeply tied our criminal justice system is to cycles of poverty, trauma, and profit.