SURRENCY TO DOC COMMISH: INSPECT COUNTY JAIL, SEND COVID ENFORCEMENT TEAM ASAP

 Says 40+ Inmates, 11 Officers and Staff Test Positive

(BRIDGETON, NJ) – Cumberland County Commissioner Jack Surrency today sent a formal letter to New Jersey Department of Corrections Commissioner Marcus Hicks, requesting that his agency conduct an inspection of the county jail and dispatch a Covid enforcement team immediately.

“Over 40 inmates, 11 officers and staff, and a food service worker have tested positive,” said Commissioner Jack Surrency (D-Bridgeton). “That’s over 50 people on Warden Smith’s watch and in his house. That’s unhealthy, unacceptable, and violates every Covid policy on the books.”

In his letter to Commissioner Marcus Hicks, Surrency writes:

According to N.J.A.C. 10A:31-2.2, the New Jersey Department of Corrections (NJDOC) is provided with a mandate and authority to conduct inspections of County Adult Correctional Facilities to ensure that, physically, they are in compliance with the mandates of N.J.A.C. 10A. Additionally, section N.J.A.C 10A:31-1.9 mandates that County Correctional Administrations not adopt policies or procedures that conflict with the relevant sections of the New Jersey Administrative Code. At any time should a county correctional facility be in non-compliance, N.J.A.C 10A Chapter 2 provides your department with the ability to engage in an enforcement to protect the public’s interest.

“Commissioner Hicks has the regulatory authority to inspect our county jail and I am respectfully requesting, on behalf of inmates and staff, that he do so,” said Surrency.

Surrency closed his letter with this:

I am requesting that you use the full powers of your office to conduct an immediate inspection of the Cumberland County Jail, in accordance with administrative code, to hold Warden Smith compliant. I am also asking that you immediately dispatch your staff to Bridgeton to ensure the jail is brought into full compliance with Covid-19 rules.

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