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Jail Consolidation In Hunterdon County
Hunterdon Freeholders To Move Jail Consolidation To Warren County For Tax Dollar Savings
Hunterdon County’s Freeholder Board, at a Freeholder meeting on December 30th, announced plans to establish a shared service agreement with Warren County for the housing of County inmates, as recommended by Sheriff Fred W. Brown. The Freeholders authorized an official thirty-day notification to Somerset County for ending the current month to month agreement for housing inmates.
Hunterdon County Sheriff Brown, whose office is responsible for prisoner transport and security, said, “There are operational improvements and additional cost savings that can be achieved for Hunterdon County taxpayers by moving to the Warren County correctional facility.”
“The proposed new agreement will enhance the operational efficiency of the County’s correction program and ensure a more streamlined processing experience for inmates within our custody.
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It is approximately only nine miles further to Belvidere than to Somerville, which does not pose a problem for transportation of Hunterdon County inmates by Sheriff’s Office personnel,” Sheriff Brown told the Freeholders.
Hunterdon and Somerset Counties entered into an agreement for jail consolidation in September, 2015, which resulted in major cost savings for Hunterdon County. The two Counties have been on a month to month agreement since the initial agreement expired in September 2019.
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Freeholder John E. Lanza stated at the meeting, “We greatly appreciate the relationship our County had with Somerset County, because it saved significant tax dollars. Hunterdon County benefited from the professional service of Somerset County Sheriff Frank Provenzano and his staff.
The County is now moving on to a relationship with Warren County that is even better for the taxpayers.”
A shared services agreement between Hunterdon and Warren Counties will be considered by both Freeholder Boards in January. Hunterdon County anticipates a savings in excess of $250,000 with the new agreement.
The Sheriff’s Office anticipates beginning housing inmates at the Warren County facility by February.
