VIDEO VISITS, PHONE CALLS, AND MESSAGING (including photo and video attachments)Ĭommunication options provide productive and innovative ways for inmates to stay connected with friends and family.Įducational videos, exercises, courses, and more help inmates transition into the next phase of their lives, secure employment, and break the cycle of reincarceration.Paperless and customizable solutions save staff time, eliminate human error, and expedite processes. DOCUMENTS, REQUESTS, GRIEVANCES, COMMISSARY.Have a news tip? Reach out at (856) 563-5252 or or follow me on Twitter, Help support local journalism with a subscription. 'It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.' He is a former editor and current senior staff writer at The Daily Journal in Vineland. Philly native transplanted to South Jersey more than 30 years ago. “My position as a director of equal opportunity will empower me to channel a lifetime of experience and commitment to action to expand employment opportunities,” Smith stated. Smith said the NAACP background and his time as a commissioner to the state Division on Civil rights afforded him a “platform and voice to promote the expansion of opportunities for people denied pathways to success by the societal obstacles placed in their way.” Privately, Smith is a longtime member and official of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, including time as president of the state NAACP. Smith said his corrections career, with the state and county, impressed on him the “consequences of a lack of opportunity on a daily basis. He first was an assistant to Warden Robert Balicki, then succeeded him in the appointed position. Smith started as warden here in February 2017, following a career with the new jersey Department of Corrections. The transfers are a prerequisite to the jail conversion, a project the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender is trying to stop. Last week, a judge rejected a request to remove an injunction blocking transfers of most inmates to either Atlantic or Salem county jails. “We will miss the warden’s leadership as we implement our plan to house our detainees in Atlantic County’s correctional facility and replace our jail with a modern holding and transportation facility,” county commission Director Joseph Derella said.Ĭounty Administrator Kim Wood said smith has provided “wise and steady leadership.” The county says it expects to save millions of dollars per year by escaping the role of jailkeeper, though it will cost most corrections officers their jobs. His departure comes as the county plan to turn the jail into a smaller holding facility is bogged down in New Jersey Superior Court. “On November 3rd, the voters informed him to leave his keys and credentials on the desk! My resignation will come when I'm ready to move on to something new! Not before!” “The citizens of the County verified his failure by voting him out,” Smith added. “Knowing Jack, I question whether or not he wrote the letter! Jack knows all too well about failure! Just look at his tenure on the Chosen Board of Freeholders! “If that letter was signed by a minimum of three more Commissioners I'd be concerned, but it's not!” Smith emailed. Last week, Smith sent a short email to The Daily Journal responding to a demand outgoing Freeholder Jack Surrency made in late December in a letter castigating the warden's job performance and asking him to resign. “During that time, we obtained a federal grant to open a job center at the jail, were the first in the state in GED graduations, implemented a Medication Assisted treatment program for substance abuse and implemented both a five-member officer search team and K-9 program to drastically reduce the introduction of illegal contraband into the jail,” Smith states. The county release does contain comments from Smith, who speaks of pride in his nearly four years at the jail. Smith, a Williamstown resident, could not be reached by phone immediately. More: Cumberland County blames corrections officers for bringing COVID into jail More: Outgoing freeholder asks jail administrator to quit The county Board of Commissioners will need to decide on a succession, Deputy Administrator Jody Hirata said. The announcement did not disclose what organization Smith was to join starting this week, and an official referred that question to Smith to answer. BRIDGETON – Friday was the final day on the job for Cumberland County Jail Warden Richard Smith, whom the county announced one day earlier he was leaving to become an equal employment opportunity director elsewhere.
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