Salem, Cumberland, Gloucester Joint Correctional Facility Quick Reference Fact Sheet

Jun 5, 2024

  • 22 years ago, the decision was made for Salem County to engage in the jail business with the construction of our Correctional Facility
  • The inmate population from our county residents ranged from 200-250 inmates with facility capacity of ~400.
  • Changes in the Justice System have decreased the population of Salem County residents to around 100 inmates.
  • Jail costs are currently $30-32 million, much of them fixed expenses regardless of the number of inmates. Although, Salem County houses Gloucester County and Federal inmates, utilizing much of the extra space, they are only contributing $8-10 Million, leaving Salem County with an annual burden of ~$24 million for our roughly 100 inmates who are residents of Salem County.
  • Gloucester and Cumberland Counties do not currently have correctional facilities but are in need of housing for their inmates. Salem has housed approximately 225 Gloucester County inmates daily over the last 10 years.
  • The purpose of the proposed joint facility is to meet the needs of the three counties (Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem) that make up the 15th Vicinage of the Superior Courts in New Jersey. The current jail facility will need to be expanded to accommodate an increase in inmate population. It will then be turned over to a Joint County Authority to operate the institution, thus relieving Salem County of the total expense.
  • Salem County will not be responsible for ANY of the expenses for expansion of the facility. Our contribution is the $55 million dollar equity in the current building. Salem County will be reimbursed over time by the Joint County Authority for its $55 Million contribution. The construction expenses will be covered by bonding solely from Gloucester and Cumberland Counties. NOT FROM SALEM COUNTY
  • After the creation of the Joint County Authority, expenses will be divided according to the residency of inmate population and billed to their respective counties.
  • It is anticipat22 years ago, the decision was made for Salem County to engage in the jail business with the construction of our Correctional Facility
  • The inmate population from our county residents ranged from 200-250 inmates with facility capacity of ~400.
  • Changes in the Justice System have decreased the population of Salem County residents to around 100 inmates.
  • Jail costs are currently $30-32 million, much of them fixed expenses regardless of the number of inmates. Although, Salem County houses Gloucester County and Federal inmates, utilizing much of the extra space, they are only contributing $8-10 Million, leaving Salem County with an annual burden of ~$24 million for our roughly 100 inmates who are residents of Salem County.
  • Gloucester and Cumberland Counties do not currently have correctional facilities but are in need of housing for their inmates. Salem has housed approximately 225 Gloucester County inmates daily over the last 10 years.
  • The purpose of the proposed joint facility is to meet the needs of the three counties (Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem) that make up the 15th Vicinage of the Superior Courts in New Jersey. The current jail facility will need to be expanded to accommodate an increase in inmate population. It will then be turned over to a Joint County Authority to operate the institution, thus relieving Salem County of the total expense.
  • Salem County will not be responsible for ANY of the expenses for expansion of the facility. Our contribution is the $55 million dollar equity in the current building. Salem County will be reimbursed over time by the Joint County Authority for its $55 Million contribution. The construction expenses will be covered by bonding solely from Gloucester and Cumberland Counties. NOT FROM SALEM COUNTY
  • After the creation of the Joint County Authority, expenses will be divided according to the residency of inmate population and billed to their respective counties.
  • It is anticipated that this facility can potentially result in annual cost savings to the county of $8-$10 Milliond that this facility can potentially result in annual cost savings to the county of $8-$10 Million