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| N.J. Prisons Head Replies to Questions on Closing Portion of Facility |
| By Press of Atlantic City |
| Published: 03/20/2003 |
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Assemblyman Jeff Van Drew released a statement containing answers to 11 questions he posed to Devon Brown, the state Department of Corrections commissioner, on the closure of a portion of Southern State Correctional Facility. According to a faxed statement issued March 11, Brown maintained that the closure of the 650-bed unit, called phase I, would not result in job losses. He noted that throughout the state, such units, which are made up of trailers, have been closed and have not resulted in job losses. 'Fully 430 inmates have been reassigned from modular units that have been closed in the past 18 months and there have been no job losses,' read Brown's letter to Van Drew, D-Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland. 'It is imperative that there be a full understanding that sound correctional practices, fiscal prudence, job preservation, and, above all, public safety govern the rationales in determining which units should be closed.' Brown said the reduction in inmates in Cumberland County will only be 300, since the DOC plans to add a new 352-bed wing at Southern State. He also said that since the county has 6,000 inmates in facilities there, he doesn't anticipate any jobs lost. 'All personnel will remain employed through the opening of the new 352-bed unit, staffing the support services at the old site, reassignment to other southern region institutions, and attrition,' he wrote. Brown answered other questions, including the fate of phase II at the Maurice River Township prison. He wrote, 'There have been no discussions to date relating to the closure of Phase II.' Van Drew also asked Brown whether the closure might be used to leverage the location of a sexual predator's unit at the prison, something that has been fought off in the past by local leaders. 'No,' wrote Brown. 'As stated previously, the decision to close Phase I was based upon budgetary and mounting concerns over the poor structural condition of the facility.' Brown wrote that the DOC's initial denials of a plan to close phase I were because there were no plans until recently. He also wrote that unions of staff at the facility were not informed earlier because of a staff error. Brown said he will meet with Van Drew and other leaders, but did not agree to a public meeting on the closure. 'Once our closure plan is finalized and I have met with you and other esteemed elected officials, I hope that your concerns will be allayed,' was his response to Van Drew's public hearing request. Van Drew said he would continue to push for a public meeting, and that he opposes the closure of phase I. 'I will continue to be vigilant in fighting any loss of jobs in my district,' he said. 'Without a doubt, New Jersey's historic budget deficit continues to pose a great challenge. I recognize this, but the prison should be deemed off limits as a remedy. South Jersey has suffered enough.' |
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