SOUTH JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — Officials in Hammonton are encouraging people to attend an Atlantic County commissioners meeting Tuesday to voice their concerns about plans to build a regional prison there.
Hammonton Deputy Mayor Tom Gribbin said little is known about a proposal to build a regional prison at Ancora Hospital near the border of Atlantic and Camden counties that would hold inmates from those counties, plus potentially Cumberland County as well.
“It’s concerning because it’s apparent that this plan has been discussed for a number of years, but it appears as though it has been done under the cover of darkness, and so we still have very few details,” Gribbin said.
He encourages residents to attend the meeting to ask questions.
“A lot of us have questions because very little information really has been provided to us by the people who are making this decision,” he said.
Gribbin noted that ultimately it is up to the state and counties to decide what happens at the site.
“Right now, the decision, I believe, rests with our elected officials in Atlantic County as to whether or not the county will join with Camden County and, it appears, Cumberland County to build this regional jail facility.”
The meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m. at the Stillwater Building in Northfield at 201 Shore Road.