Sheriff Briefs Freeholders on Plans for New Correctional Center

CREST HAVEN — Cape May County Sheriff Gary Schaffer led the presentation of plans for a $37-million, 96,400-square-foot, two-story correctional center to house 356 inmates that will replace the present 188-inmate facility that held 262 inmates Feb. 25.
While the construction cost is estimated at $37 million, another $2.7 million will be added for contingencies for unplanned expenses. According to Schaffer, the new facility will not increase taxes, as it remains within current bond issues.
Architect Jack King of the firm L.R. Kimball of Bridgewater, briefed the board on how the facility would be built, including that there will be no windows other than toward the sky, thus eliminating any interaction with the public.
The facility is designed to house inmates completely within their unit, allowing an exterior exercise yard, which is walled in, so that no contact can be made with the public.
Director of Facilities and Services Ann Marie McMahon told the board the new facility has been among her list of projects since assuming the job. She said some initial paperwork on file began in 2001. In 2008, there was a renovation project listed for $8.5 million that was never undertaken.
“The last architect we had (about 1.5 years ago) had a $29 million renovation project. The problem with that, not everything was getting fixed. We would still have crumbling pipes underground,” McMahon said.
“It was my understanding that with refurbishing, we still would not have complied with federal and state regulations,” said Director Gerald Thornton.
McMahon said the present correctional center, aside from being seriously over crowded, is beginning to require constant repairs, since bathroom walks are crumbling, lighting is poor, and air quality is not good, due to crowding in cell areas, because the facility was built for 186 inmates.
Warden Donald Lombardo told the board there are an average 35-40 female inmates in the present facility. The new center will also have a place for adjudicated juveniles, due to new state laws that require confinement for drunk driving and revoked license offenses, but still away from adult inmates.
Schaffer said all three facets of the Sheriff’s Department would be consolidated into the new center. That includes sheriff sales, currently done away from the center. There will be separate entrances for the public, judges, and for inmates.
The construction will be red brick and pre-cast concrete, said King. That should last for at least 50 years with minimum upkeep.
Schaffer said a new laundry facility in the jail is being designed so that inmate labor can be used to do the in-house laundry as well as the linens from Crest Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, which will also save an estimated $142,000 annually spent at Wildwood Linen. New linens at the center would cost about $70,000, McMahon said.
Administration offices would be on the second floor, while inmates would remain on the first floor.
If the project moves along as proposed, bidding and awarding could be done by November 2014. It is possible that the project could be done in two years, since the cells would be of modular design, constructed away from the site.
When complete the present center would be demolished.
One concern voiced by Thornton what that not one gravesite be lost from the county Veterans Cemetery to the new correctional center. He urged McMahon and Schaffer to bear that in mind as they proceeded with the plan.