The Parish Prison for Orleans Parish was erected in 1834 on the square of land bounded by Orleans, St. Ann, Marais, and Treme Streets. It remained in operation until the 1890's when the new prison was opened on Tulane Ave. and Saratoga St. The 1856 report of the Orleans Parish Grand Jury includes the following description of the prison:

"the Parish Prison ... contains 232 prisoners [and] was found in good order; its courts, yards, passages, rooms and cells, clean, and the prisoners, with one single exception, satisfied with their food and treatment. Some complain of long confinement -- of near a year -- waiting trial. Some slight repairs are wanted.

The Jury recommend that arrangements be made so that "prisoners accused of capital crimes shall be separate and distinct from those of minor offenses, and those who are serving out their term of sentence, shall have no access to those waiting trial. From its whole appearance, we are satisfied it is in safe hands, and under the care of efficient officers, with good police arrangements." The prison appears to have been under the supervision of the Sheriff of Orleans Parish and was governed by state law rather than by municipal ordinance.