Residents request access to Atlantic County Justice Facility during Ramadan; warden says dietary and prayer accommodations in place
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Summary
Public speakers asked to tour the Atlantic County Justice Facility and to verify religious-diet and prayer accommodations during Ramadan; Warden Kelly said the facility has provided Ramadan meals and a volunteer imam and agreed to schedule a tour after the board's upcoming meeting date.
At the Atlantic County Board of Commissioners meeting, public commenters raised concerns about operations at the Atlantic County Justice Facility and asked the board to facilitate community observation during Ramadan.
Steve Young of Atlantic City asked the board to permit community members to tour the facility to ensure religious rights and dietary needs for Muslim inmates are being met during Ramadan. Young also raised concerns he described as ongoing issues inside the facility and referenced what he said were charges to inmates he characterized as a $50 monthly rent drawn from the community; he requested prompt access so constituents could see conditions for themselves.
Warden Kelly, who joined the meeting remotely, said the jail has provided Ramadan trays and follows state correctional protocols and licensed-vendor guidelines for religious dietary accommodations. Kelly said a pre-dawn tour timed to Ramadan observances would not be feasible because of staffing and operational constraints, but offered to explain meal content and operations and to arrange a facility visit at a safer, posted time. "We've been doing it here for years," Kelly said of Ramadan accommodations, and added, "I don't foresee any problems." (All quotations as spoken in the public comment exchange.)
The board directed staff to coordinate with the warden and the commenter to arrange a suitable tour after the board's scheduled meeting on the 25th. Several commissioners said they would follow up with the warden to facilitate a site visit. The exchange included an explicit offer by the warden to make operational details available by phone or in a scheduled tour outside pre-dawn worship hours.
Separately, Joe Berg (who identified himself and provided an office phone number) told the board that New Jersey had begun releasing the first round of state property-tax relief payments to eligible seniors and reminded residents that the 2026 PAS-1 combined application (for tax year 2025) is available on the Treasury website.
Next steps: the board said staff would contact the warden and the commenters to set a date and time for a tour; any formal inspections or follow-up reports would be scheduled and recorded in committee or future meeting minutes.