NEWARK, NJ (May 1, 2000)--The largest private drug/alcohol treatment facility in America for prison inmates opened today with the grand opening of Delaney Hall in Newark, New Jersey. Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Corrections, Jack Terhune and Newark Mayor, Sharp James, lead a gathering of over 400 local, county and state dignitaries attending the ceremony. Delaney Hall is the newest in a series of private facilities providing cost effective treatment and custodial services in the New Jersey correctional system.
Delaney Hall was developed and will be operated by Community Education Centers (CEC), headquartered in Roseland, New Jersey. CEC provides drug/alcohol treatment, life skills training and educational services in a variety of residential and community settings in New Jersey and seven other states. Delaney Hall will service Essex County government as well as other jurisdictions.
Just two years ago, CEC opened Talbot Hall in nearby Kearny, New Jersey. Talbot Hall is an assessment and treatment facility with 500 beds. Talbot Hall has proven to be extremely successful in cost effectively treating New Jersey’s prison population, reducing recidivism and providing comprehensive assessment services to New Jersey prisoners prior to releasing them to less secure community programs or returning them to prison because it was determined through the assessment process they were not ready to return to society.
The opening of Delaney Hall brings the total number of treatment slots that CEC is providing in New Jersey to over 2,000 including 152 beds at The Harbor in Hoboken, 340 beds at Tully House in Newark, and 320 beds at the Bo Robinson Education and Training Center in Trenton. CEC is the country’s largest provider of halfway house and residential treatment facilities.
John J. Clancy, President and Chief Executive Officer of CEC, welcomed Commissioner Terhune, Mayor James, County Executive Jim Treffinger, and Essex County Freeholder President Joe DiVincenzo and other guests noting that the success of Delaney Hall’s sister facilities around New Jersey are proving that a comprehensive approach to inmate health, education and treatment produces results.
"When we opened Talbot Hall two years ago, we were confident that our approach to changing prisoners’ lives would bring results. Now, we know that facilities like Delaney Hall will reduce costs and reduce crime for Essex County and the entire State of New Jersey. Everyday, we are making a difference in the lives of New Jersey residents who are in the correctional system. Our treatment and education programs are improving their lives which, in the long run, is a benefit to the taxpayers."
Commissioner Terhune complimented Essex County and the City of Newark officials for their cooperation and foresight in helping to develop Delaney Hall. "This is a prime example of all levels of government working together to bring a worthy project to completion. Essex County wisely opted to support this program and to expand the range of services provided to this population. The City of Newark supported the development and improvement of this site. The result is a renovated building, jobs in the community, new tax revenues for the City and County as well as an improvement in the treatment options for the prison population."
"Facilities like Delaney Hall in New Jersey and around the country are proving that it is possible to break the cycle of recidivism in our prison population by addressing the substance abuse and life training needs of these individuals," Clancy added.
Delaney Hall will provide a full range of services to Essex County and other jurisdictions. Programs such as addiction assessment, life skills training, individual and group counseling and classroom education are all part of the Delaney Hall model. In addition, Delaney Hall will offer electronic as well as global monitoring programs as part of state-of-the-art tracking services offered.
Throughout treatment, inmates are monitored for behavioral problems and other issues, as well as for drug or alcohol abuse. A therapeutic team consisting of Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselors, a Clinical Director, a Director of Program Activities, and a medical doctor manages their progress. Regular staff meetings review inmates’ cases and monitor their behaviors in all facets of the program. Infractions can mean being sent back to their parent correctional institution.
A key element to the model employed at Delaney Hall is the availability and encouragement to participate in an after-care program of alumni services. Alumni from all the related facilities meet on a monthly basis to provide support and encouragement to former inmates. A partnership with area labor organizations has also been formed to provide well-paying job opportunities for graduates of the program.
" The comprehensive nature of our program is the key to our success," Clancy said. "The treatment and education an inmate will receive at Delaney Hall is supplemented with life skills training, job opportunities and an active alumni association. The total experience helps put an individual further down the road of recovery than he or she has ever experienced before. Out extensive experience to date with this model indicates that we are dramatically reducing recidivism. This translates into cost savings for taxpayers and less crime for law enforcement."
Community Education Centers provides a variety of comprehensive treatment services through its 22 locations in eight states. In addiction to New Jersey, CEC operates facilities in Colorado, Montana, New Hampshire, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming. More than 3,000 individuals receive treatment services daily from CEC.
