The Cumberland County Jail is in the news again this morning! The jail has made the news because William J. Hughes, who “was appointed special master to investigate and report to the court on a variety of virus-related issues,” said he doubts current leaders at the jail can make changes happen. From The Press of Atlantic City:

But in the same report, the attorney said he lacks faith in current leaders to make the changes happen.

"We question whether the critical paths outlined and recommendations made herein can be achieved or if they are beyond the capabilities of the current leadership," attorney William J. Hughes said in the report to Judge Noel L. Hillman.

We’ve covered the issues at the Cumberland County Jail here, here and here, but this time the folks in Cumberland have decided to drag Gloucester County into their mess. And, being a resident of Gloucester County, that caught my attention.

Apparently, the folks in Cumberland County, earlier this month, entered into a shared services agreement with Gloucester County to share Gloucester County’s warden. From this morning’s Press of Atlantic City:

Earlier this month, Commissioner Director Joseph Derella said in a news release the county has signed a shared services agreement to share Gloucester County Warden Eugene J. Caldwell II.

Needless to say I had to look into that a little further and again, thanks to the Press of Atlantic City, I learned it is true, Cumberland County is now using Gloucester County’s warden. From another Press of Atlantic City story earlier this month:

Derella described Caldwell as “uniquely qualified,” stating, “Warden Caldwell has decades of county corrections experience, but more importantly has been integral to Gloucester County’s successful transition from operating a jail to housing detainees in other facilities.”

Gloucester County closed its jail in 2013, the same year Caldwell was appointed warden there.

Gloucester County has a warden! News to me! We don’t even have a jail! Why have a warden? Why pay a guy almost $137,000 to be a warden for a jail the county doesn’t even have? And, for those who doubt the guy is paid almost $137,000, here it is from govsalaries.com:

According to Gloucester County’s website, “The primary purpose of the Corrections Division is to transport all lawfully detained inmates in an efficient, secure, and humane manner, and provide safety to the general public, staff members and inmates.” Here’s a screenshot:

I could be wrong, but I seriously doubt it, the Corrections Division is part of the Sherrif’s Department which means the Sherrif’s Department transports “all lawfully detained inmates in an efficient, secure, and humane manner…” and therefore transport is the Sherrif’s responsibility.

As for providing “safety to the general public, staff members and inmates” I have to ask what inmates in Gloucester County? They don’t have a jail! Gloucester County has no inmates! It says so on Gloucester County’s website. Here’s a screenshot:

So, if no “Female Offenders,” no “Juvenile Offenders” and no “Male Offenders” are “housed in Gloucester County” why is Gloucester County paying a guy $136,677 a year to provide safety to inmates they don’t even house?

And, now Cumberland County is paying Gloucester County for Gloucester’s warden to perform the duties he is paid not to perform at the non-existent Gloucester County jail at the soon-to-close Cumberland County Jail that has already cost the taxpayers of Cumberland $65 million.

It seems to me the only beneficiary of this mess is now Gloucester County because Cumberland County is now paying Gloucester to use their warden.

But at least Gloucester’s warden now has to earn his pay.

Only in New Jersey! Yet folks wonder why Gloucester County is the 28th highest taxed county in the country and Cumberland County is the 84th highest taxed county in the country.

Election Day is November 2nd and you can vote early. If this kind of thing makes you angry get out there and vote.