Essex County Jail Forum Will Include Personal Stories From 4 People

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of Essex County. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.

The Essex County Correctional Facility Civilian Task Force will host an in-person public meeting on Saturday, Dec. 3. During the meeting, four guest panelists will share their personal stories and experiences with mental health and the criminal justice system.

The meeting will be held as follows:

• Date: Saturday, December 3, 2022
• Time: 10 a.m. to noon
• Location: New Jersey Reentry Corporation Building, 936 Bergen Street, Newark
• Livestream: www.facebook.com/EssexCountyCivilianTaskForce

Individuals who would like to offer comment or questions during this public hearing may register to do so from 11:30 a.m. to noon, time permitting. Please be aware that this meeting and public comments will be limited to discussion regarding the four guest panelists' experiences with mental health and the criminal justice system.

People can register at https://forms.gle/bjtdF9MAw5HkWVuB8

Written remarks and questions also may be submitted by email and may be addressed during the hearing. All submissions may be shared with the county and Essex County Correctional Facility administrators; mark the statements as “confidential” if you wish them to remain private to the Task Force.

Those wishing to contact the Civilian Task Force, submit a complaint or want more information about the public meeting should email JailTaskForce@admin.essexcountynj.org or call 973 877-8037. For more information about the Task Force, visit www.essexcountynj.org/corrections/ and click on the link for the “Civilian Task Force.”

The intent of the nine-member task force is to provide “transparency and accountability” of the ECCF staff, to protect the “lives, health, safety and rights of all people confined at the ECCF” and ensure the “conditions of their confinement are safe, sanitary, respectful and humane,” according to language in the ordinance. It will act independently of county government and have the authority to inspect the ECCF, interview corrections officers, inmates, detainees, and review systematic issues and concerns.

Members of the Task Force were nominated by Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. and appointed by the Board of County Commissioners in June 2020 through an established advice and consent procedure that is used to fill vacancies on all county boards and commissions.

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here.