Rep. Jeff Van Drew Slams New Jersey Officials Over Watchdog Report Exposing ‘Unsanitary Conditions’ at Bayside State Prison

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Washington, DC — U.S. Congressman Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ) has issued a scathing response to state leadership following a disturbing new watchdog report detailing severe operational failures inside a southern New Jersey correctional facility.

The report, published by the Office of New Jersey’s Corrections Ombudsperson, highlights widespread issues including intense overcrowding, extreme heat, and overall unsanitary living conditions at Bayside State Prison in Cumberland County.

Watchdog Report Details ‘Extreme Heat’ and Closed Facilities

According to the state ombudsperson’s findings, inmates and staff at the Cumberland County facility are dealing with harsh, deteriorating daily conditions. Key findings highlighted by the Congressman include:

• Dangerous Temperatures: Inmates and staff have been forced to endure indoor temperatures climbing well into the 90s.

• Severe Overcrowding: Inmates are housed in overcrowded cells, drastically impacting safety and quality of life.

• Closed Amenities: Due to the closure of the main prison dining hall, inmates are currently forced to eat daily meals directly on their beds.

Van Drew Calls Out Political Double Standards

Congressman Van Drew used the opportunity to point out what he calls a glaring double standard among New Jersey state officials, drawing a sharp contrast between state-run facilities and private detention halls.

“For weeks, officials across New Jersey have been outraged over conditions at Delaney Hall,” Van Drew stated, referencing a separate facility that has drawn intense local political scrutiny. “They have held press conferences, staged protests, and demanded investigations. But now a state watchdog has documented overcrowding, extreme heat, and unsanitary conditions inside a prison by the State of New Jersey itself. Where is the outrage now?”

A Call to Reallocate State Spending

The Congressman emphasized that these conditions do not just affect the inmate population, but also create an unsafe, unfair work environment for New Jersey’s correctional officers.

Van Drew argued that the state’s budget priorities are severely misplaced, suggesting that millions of dollars currently earmarked for non-citizens should be diverted to stabilize state infrastructure.

“If New Jersey officials are truly concerned about conditions in detention facilities, they should start by fixing the ones they actually control,” Van Drew concluded. “Instead of setting aside more than $20 million for legal defense for illegal immigrants, New Jersey should be using that money to improve conditions for the men and women working in our state prisons. American correctional officers deserve a safe work environment, and taxpayers deserve to know why these problems have been allowed to persist for so long.”

New Jersey News Cumberland County Jeff Van Drew Public Safety NJ Politics State Watchdog Correctional Facilities