Task Force At Essex County Prison Holding Public Hearings

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A recently formed task force at the Essex County Correctional Facility (ECCF) will kick off its mission to safeguard prison inmates with a series of public hearings.

According to a news release from county officials, the Essex County Correctional Facility Civilian Task Force will hold three, in-person meetings to discuss health and medical policies at the Newark-based prison.

The first hearing will take place from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Oct. 3 at the New Jersey Reentry Corporation, 936 Bergen Street in Newark.

Other hearings are scheduled to take place from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 12, and from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Dec. 5. The locations of those hearings will be announced at a future date, officials said.

Social distancing guidelines must be followed, and face masks will be required.

According to officials:

“Matters to be discussed will likely include grievance requests and policy, Family Share and HIV care, mental and behavioral health, clinical/medical, medication-assisted treatment, chronic conditions, health status, as well as other topics. Testimony of recent releasees with experience interacting with the ECCF medical staff is of particular emphasis, especially those having experienced incarceration during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The task force was formed in 2019 in the wake of ongoing demands from the families of inmates and prison advocates, who have blasted the ECCF for alleged health and safety violations over the years.

The prison 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.

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The nine members of the task force are charged with providing “transparency and accountability” at the prison, which houses a mix of criminal and civil inmates. The task force operates independently of the county government, and has the power to inspect the ECCF, interview corrections officers, inmates and detainees, and review systematic issues and concerns.

Its members were nominated by Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. and appointed by the Board of Chosen Freeholders in June.

Those wishing to contact the Civilian Task Force, submit a complaint or want more information about the public hearing should contact JailTaskForce@admin.essexcountynj.org, or call 973 877-8037. More information can also be found online.

James McGreevey, the former governor of New Jersey and chair of the task force, said that ensuring the safety and security of the inmates at the ECCF is a paramount concern.

“We look forward to get started on this important work,” McGreevey said.

Retired chief federal judge Jose Linares, the executive director of the task force, also said he was excited to get the ball rolling for public hearings on the ECCF.

As of Tuesday, there were 1,878 total inmates at the prison, including 356 federal ICE detainees.

• See related article: Task Force Could Protect Inmates At Embattled Essex County Prison

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