WHITE TWP. - The Warren County Correctional Center received honors for scoring perfectly on a meticulous annual state inspection, and once again was one of the few county-run facilities to be found in 100 percent compliance.
“The overwhelming majority do not receive this,” said Joseph Hartmann, coordinator of the New Jersey Department of Corrections’ Office of County Services, as he presented a Certificate of Compliance to Warden Byron Foster and the Warren County Board of Chosen Freeholders during its October 14 meeting.
“It’s a lengthy process,” said Hartmann of the two-day inspection that took place earlier in the year at the correctional center, which opened in White Township in 1986. “It’s not just the physical plant; it’s a review of all the policies and procedures in place at the facility,” he noted.
The number of standards measured increased in recent years, from 226 to almost 600. Areas scrutinized include staff training; records management; living conditions; emergencies; use of security equipment; food service; sanitation; medical, dental and health services to the inmate population; inmate discipline; access and handling of inmate correspondence; and numerous other programs and services offered.
Freeholder Director Richard D. Gardner expressed appreciation to the warden and the correctional center staff for their valuable contributions, particularly the Community Labor Assistance Program (CLAP), an alternative sentencing arrangement in which free labor is provided by offenders to benefit public agencies and non-profit organizations.
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The Warren County Correctional Center is located at the county’s White Township campus on Route 519.
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“Quite frankly, they did an outstanding job,” said Gardner of CLAP workers’ contributions to major county renovation projects. The program “saved our taxpayers thousands of dollars, so it’s a benefit in multiple ways,” Gardner said.
“There are so many projects that would not have been done” without CLAP, said Freeholder Everett Chamberlain. “It’s a real asset to the county.”
On behalf of his entire staff, Foster thanked Hartman for the recognition and guidance, and the Freeholder Board for its support of maintaining security and public safety.
“Keeping the inmates in good shape enables them to contribute public service to Warren County,” Foster said.
While this is the third time Warren County has earned the award, Hartmann emphasized the honor is shared by the men and women who work in the facility on a daily basis. “Without them doing their jobs and keeping their noses to the grindstone, we wouldn’t be standing here tonight,” he said.
“We understand being a corrections officer is a tough job and a dangerous job,” said Chamberlain. “We appreciate all the men and women that work in the facility.”
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Warden Byron Foster (second from right) receives a certificate and congratulations from Warren County Freeholder Director Richard D. Gardner, Joseph Hartmann, coordinator of the New Jersey Department of Corrections’ Office of County Services, Freeholder Everett A. Chamberlain and Freeholder Angelo Accetturo, in recognition of the perfect score the county Correctional Center received on its annual state inspection.
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