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Shared Services Agreement with Morris County for the Housing of Female Inmates

Release Date: March 28, 2019
This shared services agreement with Morris County builds upon past successes for medical examiner services, juvenile detention, and youth shelter services.

MARCH 28, 2019

Newton, NJ – The Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce it has authorized a shared services agreement at its meeting of March 27 with the County of Morris for the housing of female inmates at the Morris County Correctional Facility beginning April 1. Sussex County recognizes the essential purpose of promoting public safety while providing the best care and conditions for detained adult female inmates.

After careful consideration of declining jail population due to statewide criminal justice reform, this shared services agreement represents an opportunity to reduce costs and improve service delivery. Furthermore, this agreement has no impact on the Keogh-Dwyer Correctional Facility or existing staffing levels. During the past year, the Sheriff's Office closed one floor of the five-story jail and did not replace 14 corrections officers who left due to retirement or other employment.

This shared services agreement with Morris County builds upon past successes for medical examiner services, juvenile detention, and youth shelter services. Counties in New Jersey are required to provide these services, and Sussex County has recognized meaningful savings of more than $2 million annually as a result of these agreements.

The Keogh-Dwyer Correctional Facility opened in 1978 with an original capacity of 88 beds. The jail has an authorized capacity established by the State Department of Corrections to house up to 188 inmates under the direction and management of the Sheriff's Office. As of the end of 2018, the monthly jail population had dropped to 80 inmates per day (67 men, 13 women) with an average length of stay of 25 days.