Camden Criminal Justice Council – Protecting the Public & Controlling Costs

About the Program

Category: Criminal Justice and Public Safety (Best in Category)

Year: 2012

Counties have been wrestling with the challenge of jail capacity for decades. Jails are expensive to build, expensive to maintain, and politically unpopular. Some have attempted to overbuild jails to take inmates from surrounding areas while others suffer from chronic overcrowding. In Camden County, officials have established a program to address the prison dilemma. To prepare for an expansion, Camden County has consulted the Criminal Justice council to get a better understanding of how the facility is used in order to model future plans. This council consists of officials involved directly and indirectly in the criminal justice system to assertively manage the local system. The mission of the Camden Criminal Justice Council is to identify possible improvements in the criminal justice system, develop system-wide solutions, propose actions, execute strategies, and generally improve the criminal justice system. In carrying out the mission, the Camden Criminal Justice Council is committed to Public Safety, Communication and Cooperation and has been able to accomplish meaningful results. This innovative program has allowed the county to address the prison issue from any perspective.