FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Anthony Puglisi s9

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Anthony Puglisi

April 22, 2010 973-621-2542

Lauren Shears

973-621-1590

ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO PRESENTS 2009 ANNUAL REPORTFOR ESSEX COUNTY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY

Year In Review Presentation Marks Fifth Anniversary of State-of-the-Art Correctional Facility OpeningEight Corrections Officers Recognized for Exemplary Service

Newark, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. presented the 2009 Year in Review Report for the Essex County Correctional Facility on Thursday, April 22nd. This marks the fifth anniversary of the opening of the state-of-the-art facility on Doremus Avenue in Newark. The 34-page report highlights ongoing efforts to generate recurring revenue, to reduce the operating budget and overtime costs, and maintain first-class rankings from the State of New Jersey and national accreditation agencies.

“In the five years since this cutting edge facility opened, we have transformed our Corrections Department into a professional, first-class operation that is looked at as a model throughout New Jersey,” DiVincenzo said. “I commend the men and women of our Corrections Department for hard work they do every day. The achievements of the Department are the result of every department – from those who maintain custody of the inmates to the civilian support staff – working toward making this facility the best run in the state,” he added.

“ As we complete the fifth calendar year at the Essex County Correctional Facility, the Department of Corrections continues as the premier correctional agency in New Jersey. This report is a testament to how far we have come and the direction we continue to move,” Essex County Department of Corrections Director Alfaro Ortiz said. “Clearly our family of some 650 employees is widely acknowledged as an example of excellence in public safety. This reputation is not the result of my work or that of any one individual. Our entire department has shown time and again that we are successful because we perform and respond to challenges as a team,” he noted.

“Over the last five years since this facility started operating, there has been a tremendous culture change in how inmates are treated,” Assemblyman and Freeholder Vice President Ralph Caputo said. “This is a great facility and I commend the employees for their professionalism in running this Correctional Facility,” he added.

“A complete transformation has occurred at the Correctional Facility under the leadership of Joe DiVincenzo,” Sheriff Armando Fontoura said. “There are no less than 30 law enforcement agencies operating in Essex County and anyone who is arrested comes in contact with our Sheriff’s Office and the Correctional Facility. The staff at this facility do a good job,” he noted.

Generating Revenue. In 2009, the Essex County Department of Corrections generated $22.2 million in revenue. A majority of the funds – $16.3 million – was received through its shared services agreements with the U.S. Marshals Service and Immigration and Customs Enforcement to house federal inmates and immigration detainees, respectively. The average daily population of Federal inmates held in the Essex County facility was 180 and the average daily population of immigration detainees was 268. In addition, another $794,010 of revenue was generated in reimbursements from the Federal government for transporting Federal inmates and immigration detainees.

Essex County also manages a secured medical unit at East Orange General Hospital and has shared service agreements with Passaic and Hudson Counties to house inmates who require medical attention. These partnerships created $313,343 in revenue. Other revenue was generated through reimbursements from the State ($2.7 million), inmate phone commissions ($1 million) and miscellaneous fees and reimbursements.

Operating Under Budget. The Essex County Department of Corrections completed the fiscal year $7.8 million under budget. The department spent $100.5 million of its operating budget, which was less than the $108.3 million it was allocated when the 2009 budget was presented in January 2009. These significant savings were achieved by finding new sources of recurring revenue (see above) and reducing overtime costs by about $1 million. To control overtime expenses, supervisors scrutinized sick calls and personal leave requests and instituted stricter penalties on employees who abused time off. This resulted in a reduction of 5,082 hours of overtime from the previous year. According to data collected by the Department, the $3.4 million in overtime expense by the Essex County Correctional Facility ranks as the second lowest amount spent by correctional facilities of similar size in New Jersey. Only Camden, which spent $2.9 million, had lower overtime expense.

Accreditation Maintained. For the third consecutive year, the Essex County Correctional Facility scored a perfect 100 percent compliance rating on its review from the New Jersey Department of Corrections. State statute requires the annual review, which tests the facility on 622 different aspects, including operating procedures, policies involving inmates and employees, facilities, and more. In addition, the ECCF passes monthly inspections by the Nakamoto Group, Inc., which works with the federal government to ensure facilities housing federal inmates and immigration detainees are compliant with National Detention Standards.

The Essex County Correctional Facility also maintains accreditation from the National Commission on Correctional Health Care and the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities which it received in 2007.

Alternatives to Incarceration. For the last 10 years, Essex County has contracted with Community Education Centers, Inc. to provide treatment programs to inmates who meet strict program guidelines. The inmates are housed at Delaney Hall or Logan Hall and have access to anger management, life skills training, and drug and alcohol abuse treatment programs that help them readjust when they re-enter the community. While inmates benefit from CEC’s programs, Essex Count benefits financially from the lower daily operating costs to house the inmates at the private facility. It costs Essex County approximately $118 a day to house an inmate at the Correctional Facility while CEC spends about $68 at Delaney Hall and Logan Hall. These operational savings as well as a State grant add up to $34.4 million savings in operational costs for Essex.

Corrections Officers Honored

Sgt. Joanne Garcia was recognized as Supervisor of the Year. She will begin her 25th year with the Department in July. Currently assigned to the Inmate Services Bureau, Garcia spearheads a variety of logistical functions including warehouse operations and the Inmate Incentive Program. She has been, and continues to be a key player in the garnering of accolades and accreditations at the Essex County Correctional Facility. Each and every inspection team and regulatory agency that has evaluated the facility has provided unsolicited praise for the degree of excellence and level of organization inherent in every project with which Garcia is involved.

Sgt. Garcia is meticulous and her firm but fair manner and demeanor have won her the respect of officers and prisoners. Her conscientiousness and unwavering willingness to perform above and beyond and her stanch dedication to assisting and improving the performance of her peers and her subordinates have earned her recognition as Essex County Corrections Supervisor of the Year.

Officer Ron Gholson was recognized as the Corrections Officer of the Year. Gholson joined the Department of Corrections in 1994 and worked for nearly 10 years in a variety of custodial assignments. In 2003, he was selected as a member of the Transition Team to relocate operations from the County’s two old jail buildings to the Correctional Facility on Doremus Avenue. Currently assigned to the Training and Professional Services Bureau, Gholson is accredited as a Certified Public Trainer by the New Jersey Department of Personnel and is responsible for new hire orientations and in-service programs for both officers and civilian staff.

Gholson was honorably discharged as a Sergeant from the U.S. Army and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Rutgers University and a degree in Computer Information Systems. Known for his impeccable personal presentation, strength of character and efficiency, Gholson leads by example and is recognized as a role model for the young officers and police academy recruits that he trains. His diligence and stalwart desire to not only improve the department but to advance the profession of corrections officer has earned him recognition as Essex County Corrections Officer of the Year.

Lt. Joseph Badgley, Lt. James Troisi and Sgt. Jose “Ricky” Badillo received the Lifesaving Award. On June 25, 2009, an officer assigned to direct traffic in front of the Essex County Correctional Facility on Doremus Avenue was struck by a tractor trailer. Badgley, Troisi and Badillo responded along with the facility’s medical staff. The three supervisors, all of whom are certified as emergency medical technicians, took charge of the scene. Doremus Avenue was closed to traffic. The wounded officer was assessed, treated and immobilized to protect him from further injury. Physicians and nurses from the Correctional Facility prepared the officer for transport and initiated more definitive treatment until the officer could be transported to the trauma center at University Hospital. The supervisors’ rapid response is credited with preventing this most unfortunate event from becoming a tragedy.

Officer Allan Alvarez, Officer Alex Flores and Officer Cary Liverpool returned from active military duty and were congratulated for their service to their country.

Liverpool has been with the Corrections Department for four years and was a sergeant with the 250th Support Battalion of the Army National Guard. He returned from Iraq with numerous commendations including the National Defense Service Medal and the Iraq Campaign Medal.

Flores has been employed with Essex County Corrections since August 2006 and was a corporal with the 117th Cavalry. He was deployed in Iraq for nine months, where he received the Global War on Terrorism Medal and his second Armed Forces Reserve Medal, among others.

Alvarez started his corrections career in July 2007. He was deployed with the 113 th Infantry for nine months and was awarded the Iraq Campaign Medal and the Oversees Service Ribbon, among others.

The $416 million Correctional Facility was just 40 percent completed when DiVincenzo took office in January 2003. The County Executive restored order to the project and construction was completed in just 12 months. The transition from two antiquated jails took only three months and the 2,100 inmates were transferred into the new facility over two weekends in March 2004. The Correctional Facility was designed to house about 2,370 inmates and is equipped with cutting edge technology.