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Essex County corrections reports rising population, opens mental-health step-down unit and new revenue streams
Summary
Director Ron Charles reported a higher jail census, new mental-health programming and major revenue increases from federal and state housing agreements. The department plans capital upgrades and staff training while noting shifts in federal inmate flows.
Essex County Department of Corrections Director Ron Charles told commissioners the jail saw a high population and new program revenue in 2024 while adding a mental-health step-down unit and expanded reentry programming.
Charles said the department recorded roughly $70.4 million in revenue in 2024 and has a revenue goal of about $80.8 million for 2025, driven in part by newly centralised housing for parole violators and other contracted placements.
On population and placements, Charles said the daily census reached 2,138 at the time of the hearing and capacity (all beds) is about…
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