That concept had never occurred to me...lol WoW...what a nightmare. If the records were destroyed at the courthouse as well, then the courts can't forfeit on any of the bonds either...so that might be the silver lining in that dark cloud.
From an investigative standpoint I would investigate the following:
1) Cops always keep thier own records...so any files that may still be salvageable through personal or pd computers could be used to recreate a case.
2) State Parole and probations officer records
3) jail house/intake records
4) State Troopers records
5) Sheriff's dpt records
6) State Prison records
7) FBI Records..cases that may have been sent to the FBI crime lab and had not been returned to NOPD yet.
The individual BEA's who were working active cases prior to the storm would have secured thier files. I keep a client case history with all of thier case #'s, charges, residences etc. Most of my local skips are repeat offender's, so I know I will have to chase them again down the road.
9) State of Louisianna NCIC records. If any of the fugitives were listed in NCIC as wanted by Louisianna, then those records are available from NCIC.
The frightening revelation here is that the fugitives are now scattered to the 4 winds with a fresh start...it will be so easy for a convicted felon to secure a new identity..unless his/her new home state runs a fingerprint check on everyone who has to replace ID documents..but then that becomes cost prohibitive for the caretaker state.
Some could claim they don't know thier ssn, give a fake name, a fake or destroyed address, etc..a convicted felon could now get a squeaky clean new identity and now be a regular john doe citizen.
WOW..this is frightening..!