Former NJ Gov. Jim McGreevey Joins Essex County Prison Task Force – Newark, NJ Patch

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A task force assigned with a daunting duty – provide oversight at the embattled Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark – now has a staunch voice for inmate rehabilitation in its corner: James McGreevey.

On Thursday, Essex County officials announced that McGreevey, the former governor of New Jersey, has been appointed as the chair of the Essex County Civilian Task Force.

McGreevey is the first appointment to the task force, which will work with the administration of the county-run prison to address “systematic issues” at the facility, officials said.

The prison houses a mix of criminal and civil inmates. It contracts with ICE to house hundreds of federal detainees awaiting deportation, an arrangement that brings in an estimated $50 million per year for the county, some experts say.

Many advocates have demanded that the county completely nix its federal contract to house ICE detainees at the prison, calling it “blood money.”

For years, civil rights activists and families of prisoners have been demanding more oversight and better conditions at the jail, which has seen accusations of stomach-churning health and safety risks.

But according to county officials, the still-developing task force is a big step towards a better prison.

The task force, which was proposed by Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. and approved by the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders, will operate “autonomous of county government,” officials said. It will have the authority to inspect the prison, interview corrections officers and inmates/detainees, and review systematic issues and concerns.

The ACLU of New Jersey has offered support for the task force, stating that it could begin paving the way for “meaningful civilian oversight” at a county jail with one of the largest populations of immigration detainees in the nation.

It’s not just immigrants who would benefit from the task force, either, according to the ACLU-NJ. The oversight panel’s authority would encompass all people held at the jail, including defendants awaiting trial and people who have already been sentenced.

JIM MCGREEVEY: A ‘STRONG ADVOCATE’ FOR INMATES

McGreevey, a former state legislator and mayor of Woodbridge, has been a staunch advocate of prison re-entry programs and rehabilitation for former inmates. He leads the New Jersey Reentry Corporation and has volunteered at Exodus Transitional Community at the Church of Living Hope in New York City and at Integrity House at the Hudson County Correctional Facility.

“We’re pleased to announce Governor McGreevey as chairman of the Civilian Task Force and honored that he has made himself available to serve in this volunteer role,” DiVincenzo said. “Jim has a solid record of helping inmates transition back into the community after they are released and has been a strong advocate for rights of those being held in our jails. With his leadership experience and knowledge of our criminal justice system, he is extremely qualified to lead our new task force.”

Freeholder President Brendan Gill said McGreevey is an excellent choice to head the prison task force.

“This is an important position, which will set a precedence for this type of administration,” Gill said. “He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge from the New Jersey Re-entry Corporation and we anticipate a positive impact on future outcomes.”

According to county officials, McGreevey, Executive Director Jose Linares, and representatives from the county administration and freeholder board will be interviewing candidates for positions on the task force in the coming weeks.

Here’s who they’ll be looking for, officials said:

“The nine-member volunteer board will be comprised of a representative from a recognized detained advocacy group, a representative from a recognized inmate advocacy group, a member who is in good standing with the criminal defense bar, a corrections expert, an individual who was formerly incarcerated, a social justice advocate, an expert in the medical field and one member of the public. All members and the executive director are nominated by the county executive with advice and consent of the freeholder board. Essex County solicited resumes from members of the public who were interested in serving on the task force; the deadline was Jan. 17.”

Other moves county officials have made to improve conditions at the prison include offering free lawyers to federal ICE detainees who can’t afford them. Some of the tasks that the free lawyers will work on include securing bond, cancellation of removal, asylum, withholding and handling Convention Against Torture claims.

Detainees at the Essex County Correctional Facility currently have access to pro bono legal representation and a “variety of immigration advocacy groups that provide assistance to the detainees and their families,” county officials previously said.

The prison – which opened in 2004 – has been accredited by the American Correctional Association since 2013.

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