MAYOR RAS J. BARAKA STATEMENT ON DELANEY HALL

“For the past year, the City has been engaged in litigation with the GEO Group due to its failure to comply with municipal ordinances when it began operating Delaney Hall. Our concerns remain unresolved, as critical city agencies, including the Health Department, Fire Division, and Code Enforcement, have repeatedly been denied access to inspect the facility.

“While we have pursued this matter through the courts, GEO Group has continued to operate a facility marked by deeply troubling incidents. These include the collapse of a wall resulting in a security breach, the death of a detainee while in custody, and an ongoing hunger strike by detainees.

“These concerns are further substantiated by letters smuggled out by detainees themselves, which provide firsthand accounts of serious humanitarian and constitutional violations. The letters describe alarming health conditions, including widespread illness, flu outbreaks, and the denial of necessary medical treatment for chronic and life-threatening conditions such as HIV, cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. Detainees also report inadequate and poor-quality food, compounding these dangerous and inhumane conditions.

“In light of these alarming reports, we are going to request assistance from the Governor to empower the Attorney General to immediately investigate Delaney Hall. This should include but is not limited to its certificate of occupancy, compliance with state and local regulations, and the conditions of detainees housed there. I also call for a full and independent inspection by the Department of Health to assess the facility’s conditions and ensure compliance with public health and safety standards, with periodic inspections to ensure compliance moving forward.

“It is imperative that we take all necessary steps to uphold the rule of law, ensure accountability, and protect the dignity and rights of some of the most vulnerable individuals in our care.”

-NEWARK- 

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