Gloucester County Works to Close Jail

Gloucester County has transferred the first batch of inmates as it prepares to close the county jail.Inmates are being sent to the county jails in Cumberland, Salem, Burlington and Essex Counties in a cost-cutting move.

Officials tell The Courier-Post of Cherry Hill the 240 men in the jail now will all be moved by the end of the month.

The New Jersey Public Defender's Office and corrections workers unions oppose the closure. County officials say most officers have been found other jobs in the county government and most are expected to land with the state Corrections Department eventually.

Gloucester County officials say the closure should save taxpayers $3 million this year and eventually $11 million annually.