Politics & Government
Ocean County Jail to Receive $5M in Upgrades
Upgrades will improve security, bring the 1962 jail up to current codes
The Ocean County Jail is due to receive up to $5 million in upgrades, county officials say.
The Ocean County Freeholders approved a $5,030,000 bond measure this week which will fund several projects at what is known as the "1962 Jail," which refers to the jail built that year after a fire swept through the original jail in 1959.
The 1962 jail was last upgraded in 1988. Since then, several facets of the lockup are out of code, said Michael Fiure, Director of Management and Budget for the county.
Work will include increasing the number of cells and spreading a total of 108 cells across two floors, Fiure said. Also included in the renovation plan are improved security enhancements, improvements to the booking area and upgrades to the elevators and stairwells so they meet current state codes.
"When they [built] the new jail, we knew the ’62 jail would have to be fixed up again," said Fiure.
A $55 million addition to the 1962 jail opened its doors to inmates in 2011.
The jail is currently licensed for 680 beds. According to county statistics, the jail houses about 550 inmates on a daily basis.
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