April 30, 2007 - 3:26pm
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Sweeney - Consolidation of Sex Offender Facilities Should Be Discussed Publicly

TRENTON – Senator Stephen M. Sweeney today grilled Department of Corrections Commissioner George Hayman about ongoing plans to consolidate several facilities holding civilly committed sex offenders into a single, large facility.

       “My understanding is that it’s all but a done deal that these individuals will be moved to Southwood,� said Senator Sweeney, D-Cumberland, Salem and Gloucester. “Cumberland County already does its part, housing over a quarter of the prison population.  We neither want nor can afford to have hundreds of committed sex offenders moved into the county.�

       Commissioner Hayman confirmed that Southwood was one of the facilities being considered for the consolidation but claimed that a final decision on which prison will hold the sex offenders has not been made.

       “I don’t understand why we are looking to move these inmates to begin with,� said Senator Sweeney.  “We should look into building up the existing facilities rather than move these individuals into a new community.�

       Senator Sweeney asked Commissioner Hayman to commit to getting public input before any final decision on the consolidation is made.

       “The public needs a chance to weigh in on the decision.  Nobody wants more sex offenders in their community, but it’s simply unacceptable to force this move onto a community without a chance to voice its opposition and suggest other options,� explained Senator Sweeney.

JIM GRIFFIN can be reached via email at jgriffin@njleg.org.
Related topics: Senator Stephen Sweeney