SOUTH JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — Camden County officials are working to find a new site to build a regional prison after the mayor of Winslow Township said the community doesn’t want it in its town.
The regional prison was going to be built adjacent to Ancora Psychiatric Hospital, but Winslow Township Mayor Marie Lawrence asked the county to find another location. In a statement, she said the town already “bears the burden” of challenges that come from the state institution, and a massive prison would only put further strain on the community.
“My colleagues and I believe having a second, even larger institution in Winslow, will compound that existing burden regardless of how secure it is,” she stated.
Camden County Commissioner Jonathan Young said officials respect the mayor’s request and will look for another location where this development is welcome.
“They have to live in that community every day, and they know their community best. So we’ve listened,” he said. “When we look, we are going to look at the best place that kind of fits us in there, and we’ll take it from there.”
Camden and Cumberland counties are working together on building a regional prison to address common challenges and staffing shortages. Young said they also want to save money.
“Combining shared services is the way for us to start lowering taxes,” he noted.
Commissioners said the regional prison will bring more than $1 billion in new construction and attract hundreds of new employees.
So far, no potential locations for the prison have been announced.