Essex County Immigration Detention Expansion, an Invitation for
Abuse
Background
In early August, Essex County Executive, Joe DiVincenzo, entered into a new InterGovernmental Services Agreement (IGSA) with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
to increase the number of ICE detainees held in Essex County from 500 to 1,250. Until the new
agreement, New Jersey had experienced a continued increase in the number of immigration
detention having reached the previous all time high of approximately 1,600 beds in February,
2010. The Essex County Correctional Facility immediately added 300 additional beds, and the
privately-run Delaney Hall opened to 68 women and 382 men opened in October. The total
number of detention beds in New Jersey is now around 2,350.
The history of immigration detention in New Jersey includes a myriad of cases of abuse,
including a number of shocking deaths, a culture of secrecy and lack of transparency. Up until
this fall, New Jersey had only one privately-run facility for immigrant detainees, the Elizabeth
Detention Center, the Elizabeth Detention Center, which originally owned and run by a company
known, at that time, as Esmore, now Correctional Services Corporation (CSC). The facility
changed hands back in 1994 after riots over poor conditions forced it to close temporarily. It is
now run by Corrections Corporation of America (CCA). It was the death of a Guinean tailor,
Boubacar Bah, while in CCA‟s custody at Elizabeth that spurred a series of articles by the New
York Times and raised the issue of substandard medical care and neglect in immigration
detention to the national level.
The Essex County Freeholders voted on December 14, 2011 to accept a bid from Education and
Health Centers of America (EHCA), the non-profit affiliate of Community Educations Centers
(CEC). CEC has been skirting both pay to pay regulation and campaign donation disclosure
requirements through a shell game where EHCA holds the contract but CEC runs the facilities
and nets the lion‟s share of the profits. In New Jersey, pay to play, whereby an individual,
business, or organization makes campaign contributions to political parties, or parties
themselves, and receives government contracts in exchange, has been, and continues to be, a
major political issue.
The following sections will address issues which contributed to the lack of competitiveness in
the contracting process, and the loophole in New Jersey‟s “pay to play” that allows the county to
accept EHCA‟s bid. Preventable deaths have occurred in Delaney Hall and other CEC facilities
around the country. The County‟s claims of how much it will profit are suspect, and should
anticipate additional costs.

NJ State Comptroller’s Reports
On June 15, 2011, New Jersey State Comptroller, Matthew Boxer issued a report critical of the
state Department of Corrections contracting for „residential community release programs‟ or
halfway houses, of which EHCA holds more than half of the state‟s $62 million in contracts. The
Comptroller found that more than 97% of state contract funds paid to EHCA since 1997 went to
the for-profit CEC, despite New Jersey law that requires the centers to be non-profit. This raises
the question if EHCA is anything but a shell corporation.
It appears that between 1994 an 1996, CEC made good use its legal counsel and most likely, its
political connections, to strike a deal with the AG‟s office to allow CEC to use EHCA as a shell
to comply with the state‟s legal requirement that only non-profits can hold contracts with the
state to operate halfway houses. The arrangement is referenced in this letter from the NJ Office
of the Comptroller to the NJ DOC “The CEO [of CEC] stated to us that around the time of
CEC’s formation, he worked with the New Jersey Attorney General‟s Office to structure the
Agreement between CEC and EHCA in a manner that would be compliant with New Jersey law.
He further presented us with two letters referencing the arrangement from the AG’s Office to
his attorney, dated October 7, 1994 and August 2, 1996”.Based on the time-frame it would
follow that the lawyer was employed by Dughi & Hewit, whether it be Palatucci, Christie or
another lawyer at the firm. However, the authors of this report have not seen copies of these
letters and the Comptroller chose not to share the name of the lawyer so to say so conclusively
would be a presumption.
The Comptroller directed the Department of Corrections to request a new review of the
arrangement by the State Attorney General, which had been approved by prior Attorneys General
in 1994 and 1996. In 1996, EHCA held $3 million in state contracts. The public has not been
informed of the results of any review that AG‟s office may have done.
By contracting through the non-profit, EHCA President John Clancy avoids having to disclose
actual conflicts inherent in political contributions made by CEC to politicians and state party
organizations. Since 1997, CEC itself, then called Community Corrections Corporation (CCC),
CEC executives and Clancy‟s family members have made very substantial contributions to New
Jersey‟s major political parties and many politicians who were or are in a position to award
halfway house or detention contracts, as well as regulate the industry.
In September, the Comptroller released a second report recommending that the legislature close
the „local loophole‟ in state „pay to play‟ legislation.i He recommended that counties have the
same restrictions on political contributions for entities bidding for county contracts as the state
does and as is already in place at the county level for no bid contracts.
The Comptroller‟s reports and letter raise three issues that are relevant to Essex County
freeholders‟ voting to accept EHCA‟s bid.

1) The legality of the arrangement between the state government and a non-profit that
pays its for-profit affiliate to provide the services is under review by the office of
New Jersey‟s Attorney General. It was reported in an article on PolitickerNJ.that the
Comptroller‟s office intended to keep any determination from the AG‟s office private.
2) The Comptroller‟s office questioned the lack of transparency concerning the fiscal
soundness of CEC, since the state is not given access to audited financial statements
for CEC, only for EHCA, since EHCA is the vendor. This is problematic since if
CEC were to become insolvent, EHCA would not be in a position to provide the
1,390 beds that the state has contracted for. There is reason for concern about CEC‟s
financial soundness based on a lawsuit by David Watson, the former Chief Financial
Officer of CEC, who is suing the company for breach of employment
contract. Watson alleges in his complaint that John Clancy lied to him about the
financial instability of the company.
3) The award of the contract to an affiliate of the for-profit CEC violates the spirit of
New Jersey‟s pay to play law. EHCA should only be allowed to bid for state contracts
if they not the for-profit CEC, are providing the services. EHCA is currently not in a
position to do so, lacking the assets, personnel and experience required.

Lack of Oversight
This past June, after months of testimony from advocates, service providers and community
members, Freeholder Caputo, as chair of the freeholder board‟s penal committee, announced that
Essex County would investigate charges of violations of the NJ Administrative Code and other
civil & human rights violations. He invited advocates to join this effort to oversee the jail. Mr.
Caputo and the freeholder board have since reneged on this offer
The 100% ACA accreditation of both the Essex County Correctional Facility and of Delaney
Hall and CEC‟s various other correctional facility is one of the reasons being used to say that
additional oversight is not necessary. However, prison reform advocates and even a former
member of ACA‟s board question if it has any value.
The American Correctional Association has long had questions about its own ability and
willingness to adequately assess institutions which it accredits, especially in the criticism by
Accreditation Committee member, District of Columbia Chief Judge David Bazelon, in his
resignation letter in 1984. In recent decades the ACA has become dependent on the for-profit
industry for its revenues, including conference sponsorships, exhibitor, training and accreditation
fees, membership dues, and Corrections Magazine ad revenues. It draws its board members from
among the for-profit operators, suppliers and subcontractors. Although industry members have
used prospective accreditation as a selling point for new contracts, the ACA typically does not
consider accrediting new facilities until they have been in operation for two years.

Overstated Profits, Externalized & Underestimated Costs
Advocates have raised serious questions regarding whether the county will experience any net
benefit from the contract. In addition, legitimate concerns have been raised about the negative
effect that incarceration for profit can be expected to have on those already inhumane conditions
that have been documented . The overarching question remains of whether using the
incarceration of individuals as a revenue source is a morally acceptable enterprise for Essex
County.
Unfortunately for Essex County‟s coffers, the prison business is labor intensive and one where
economies of scale whereby the cost of operation automatically goes down as an enterprise
expands do not easily apply. The need for more labor (guards and other personnel) as well as bed
space and the overall size of the facility itself as the population expands all keep any potential
profits from rising. In fact there is a point at which expanding jail populations begin to
negatively impact any financial gains that a facility, local prison board or private prison company
might realize. Couple this with the increased potential for lawsuits as conditions deteriorate
when prison operators try to do more with less and the prison business becomes much less of a
sure thing.
The $50 million per year the County Executive claims Essex will receive is significantly
overstated. Essex County has admitted, through written communication, that this is a projected
gross revenue number that has been unrealistically calculated using an absolute best case
scenario: That all 1250 beds will be filled at all times at the full $108/day reimbursement rate.
Though Essex County claims that “all appropriate analysis have been done,” it has been less than
forthcoming about the costs associated with the contract. We know from published reports that
the subcontract with Community Education Centers (CEC) the for-profit firm that runs Delaney
Hall, alone will reduce this number by at least $8-10 million.
There has also been no estimation of the increased cost of providing the necessary additional
guards, nor of required improvements to the facilities. Essex County claims while repeatedly
promoting the increased training that all guards would undergo as a result of the new contract,
there will be no costs associated with this training. Despite repeated requests for information by
local advocates, Essex County‟s Administration vaguely maintains the costs of the contract with
ICE are “fixed, based on our operational costs.” Although the costs associated with running a
public facility are disclosable as public information, Essex County has yet to divulge the size and
details of those costs.
Essex County Freeholder Ralph Caputo and chair of the freeholder board‟s penal committee,
says the new contract between the county and ICE is “unpleasant but useful” because it will raise
revenues. Joe DiVincenzo has called the agreement between Essex and ICE a “homerun” and.
says it will "help reduce the financial burden on our taxpayers." However, the county has no
control over property taxes. That is up to the individual municipalities to decide. In fact, this fall

Newark announced a 4.6% property tax increase for the coming year despite the fact that Essex
County presented a balanced budget for 2011 that included projected revenues of $27.5 million
from the ICE contract.
It appears that Essex County is either not being realistic about costs associated with running an
immigration detention facility or will certainly be operating a facility that is woefully unprepared
to adequately meet the needs of the expanding immigrant detainee population.

Joe DiVincenzo Essex County & NJ Politics
When Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. was sworn into his second term as Essex County Executive on
January 1,2007, he pledged to run"government under glass" and to restore integrity and
confidence in the Essex County government. He also declared, “there is no doing business as
usual”...
DiVincenzo‟s first term in office immediately followed that of James W. Treffinger, who, after a
20 count indictment, brought by US Attorney Chris Christie, pleaded guilty to, among other
things, accepting a $15,000 campaign contribution in exchange for a county contract. Treffinger
spent 13 months in prison and finished out his sentence at CEC‟s Logan Hall. Treffinger‟s
predecessor, Thomas J. D‟Alessio, shared a similar fate. In 1992, D‟Alessio was indicted and
accused of, among other things, using campaign funds for real estate ventures and a personal
vacation. D‟Alessio, while still in office, was convicted in 1994 of extorting $58,000 from a
waste removal company in exchange for assistance with a state permit.
In 2002 during a nasty primary battle between DiVincenzo and Thomas Giblin, it was rumored
that DiVincenzo, then freeholder board president, might be caught up in the indictment and
ongoing investigation of Treffinger. The specter of any such pending indictment was quashed
when, in a highly unusual move, Chris Christie as US Attorney, issued a curt letter stating that
DiVincenzo was “not a subject or target of the grand jury investigation."
DiVincenzo is now on his third term as Essex County‟s Executive and his political reach extends
to Trenton. He maintains a close relationship with and is a strong political ally of Governor
Christie.. DiVincenzo has also built a political machine that that can be the determining factor in
local, county, legislative district, and even, statewide and congressional races.
Essex County has historically been mired in political connections, often corrupted, including
unelected party bosses and back door deals. Its politicians benefit not only from multiple paid
government positions, but also from significant contributions to the county campaign coffers
from corporations seeking to do business with Essex County.
Essex County does not have pay-to-play regulations that would bar companies like CEC who
donate to Essex County politicians from entering into contracts with the county. The State of
New Jersey and several other counties do, including Bergen County which just passed such

regulations this fall. This is something of which corporations such as CEC can, and do, take full
advantage. These contributions create huge campaign finance war-chests for local officials. At a
usually annual event which Joe DiVincenzo holds at Mayfair Farms, an elegant 19th century
mansion in West Orange which is now a luxury catering and banquet hall, DiVincenzo
reportedly regularly raises as much as $300,000 adding to his sizable campaign finance coffers.
This money can then be used to finance the campaigns of other select politicians.
Leonard Luciano, for instance, was appointed mid year in 2011 to fill the District 4 seat on the
freeholder board which was vacated by Linda Lordi Cavanaugh. Luciano, a 30-year old who had
never been elected to any position in government received the support of DiVincenzo for the
appointment and also a significant financial contribution to Luciano‟s campaign come the fall.
Of the over $13,000 Luciano received in campaign donations , $8,000 came from DiVincenzo,
The next largest source of funding came in the form of a loan of $2,500 from Alexander Trento
the chair of the Democratic Committee for West Caldwell.
A virtual unknown outside of West Caldwell political circles, and having lost his only other prior
election in which he had ever participated, Luciano needed the money and the benefit of
DiVincenzo‟s endorsement and the Democratic political machine in Essex County to eke out a
win by a margin of just 224 votes against Joseph Chiusolo, the Deputy Mayor of Cedar Grove.
Luciano recently reaffirmed his unwavering support for the immigration detention contract
before dozens of detention project opponents who attended the December 7, 2011 freeholder
meeting.
That many legislators are on Essex County‟s payroll also helps DiVincenzo wield power in
Trenton
“The factor that critics cite as most troubling is that several state legislators also work
for Essex County. Directly or indirectly, Mr. DiVincenzo is their boss, and in most cases
he played a pivotal role as they rose to power in Trenton.
He helped engineer the deal that made one of his top aides, Assemblywoman Sheila Y.
Oliver, the Assembly speaker last January. He played a crucial role in the campaign of
another top aide, M. Teresa Ruiz; she won a State Senate seat in 2007 over a veteran
legislator who had defied party leaders.
He helped make Kevin J. Ryan, a county undersheriff, an assemblyman this month, over
the efforts of Bergen County Democrats who thought the seat was rightfully theirs. State
Senator Nia Gill is a lawyer who represents a county agency. And assorted other
politicians have family members on the payrolls of public and private agencies allied
with the county executive.” – NY Times January 19, 2011
DiVincenzo‟s nepotistic and crony connections are particularly evident on Essex County‟s Board
of Chosen Freeholders. State Sen. Teresa Ruiz is married to Samuel Gonzalez who was a
Freeholder until earlier this year. He resigned after he was indicted on election fraud involving
the election of his wife to her current post.. Juan M. Rivera, Jr. was named as Gonzalez interim

replacement, but later won the primary election. Rivera at one time served as director of
constituent affairs for Teresa Ruiz. In September, Rivera also resigned and Rolando Bobadilla
was appointed to replace him. Bobadilla had also worked for Teresa Ruiz. In addition he
continues to be employed by the North Ward Center, a charitable community organization run by
Essex County political boss and DiVincenzo backer Steve Adubato. In a measure of Adubato‟s
influence the Star Ledger article which announced Bobadilla‟s appointment did not show a
picture of the newest member of the freeholder board, but rather it ran a picture of Adubato.
Other notable connections include:
 Congressman Donald Payne‟s brother William D. Payne, a former State Assemblyman, is
also a deputy chief of staff to DiVincenzo
 Congressman Payne‟s son, Donald Payne, Jr. is an Essex County Freeholder as well as
president of Newark‟s City Council.
 Burt Sebold – Freeholder Pat Sebold‟s husband is Vendor Administrator for the Essex
County Dept of Economic Development.
Essex County which is heavily Democratic is also the second most densely populated county in
NJ, next to Hudson. It is ranked third in total population behind Bergen and Middlesex. Any
statewide election campaign would be foolish to disregard Essex County making it less likely
that any Democratic politician would go against DiVincenzo.

Joe DiVincenzo Essex County Jail & CEC
In 1982 Essex County was placed under a Federal Consent order. Its jail system, then consisting
of two facilities, one next to the Hall of Records, the other in North Caldwell were overcrowded
and in poor condition. Both buildings were old, the jail annex built in 1862. Their pipes leaked,
electrical wiring was exposed and rodents and insects infested the buildings which were
generally filthy. To comply with the consent order Essex County would either need to spend
substantial amounts of money renovating and expanding these outdated facilities or build a new
one. Essex County chose the latter. Not only was consolidation in a single large, more modern
facility more prudent, but a wealthy suburb had grown up around the property on which the jail
annex sat. It had become valuable real estate
In 1997 Essex County took a major step toward building a new facility when it issued bonds
worth $25 million for the construction of a new jail
At the end of December of 1998, the property on which Essex County Correctional Facility came
to be built was sold to the Essex Count Improvement Authority for $6.5 million by Celanese
Chemical.
CEC began to write checks to Joe DiVincenzo in 1999 while he was still a freeholder. His first
campaign contribution from CEC was in the amount of $1800. He is the only freeholder at the
time to receive money from CEC.

There is some conflicting information on when construction on the Essex County Correctional
Facility actually began but it appears to have been in either 2001 or 2002.
Joe DiVincenzo assumes office as Essex County Executive in January of 2003. He also takes
over responsibility for the oversight of building the new correctional facility, taking it away from
the Essex County Improvement Authority, which is overseen by the freeholder board.
In 2004, the Essex County Jail Annex in North Caldwell and the Essex County Jail are closed.
Prisoners are moved to the new Essex County Correctional Facility on Doremus Avenue in
Newark. Chris Christie is on hand for the ceremonial opening of the Essex County Correctional
Facility.
On February 6, 2007 U.S. District Court Judge Harold Ackerman dismisses the Federal Consent
Order that was a part of litigation involving inferior conditions and overcrowding in the Essex
County jail system.
In 2008 Essex County signed a contract with the US Marshals that would also allow it to take
custody of its first ICE detainees.

Bill Palatucci and CEC- Straddling Politics and Business
William J. Palatucci is currently the Senior Vice President of Community Education Centers. He
has never been elected to office, but throughout much of his adult life he has been very involved
in New Jersey‟s Republican Party working on campaigns and as a fundraiser and donor.
Palatucci keeps a very high profile in politics for an unelected official.
 Palatucci helped run Christie's gubernatorial campaign and was co-chair of the
governor's inaugural committee.
 He sits on the board of an issue advocacy organization, Reform Jersey Now. that raises
money to help promote the policies of Governor Christie
 Palatucci is currently the State Committeeman from New Jersey of the National
Republican Central Committee
 He was appointed to both the New Jersey Republican state legislative redistricting
committee and the congressional redistricting committee
 Palatucci was ranked the 13th most powerful person in business in the state in 2011 by
NJ Biz.
Palatucci‟s relationship with Governor Chris Christie dates back to at least 1992 when Palatucci
joined the firm of Dughi & Hewitt where Christie had been employed since 1987 and where
Christie would be made a partner in 1993. As something of a seasoned political operative,
having worked on political campaigns including that of former Governor Thomas Kean,
Palatucci established and headed up the firm‟s governmental affairs department. In 1998,
Christie also registered as a lobbyist in New Jersey. The firm lobbied in Trenton on behalf of

major corporations and trade groups among them was Community Education Centers. In 2001
Community Education Centers listed Dughi, Hewitt & Palatucci as its legislative agent.
Though Christie himself was a major fundraiser for George W. Bush, it is Palatucci who takes
much of the credit for Christie‟s nomination to the US Attorney‟s office in 2001. Palatucci
claims to have recommended Christie and to have forwarded his resume to DC, specifically to
Karl Rove. Back in New Jersey, Christie‟s nomination raised some eyebrows and caused some
controversy amongst the legal community due to Christie‟s lack of prosecutorial experience.
The objections were not enough to scuttle the nomination and in 2002 Chris Christie left the firm
which is now known as Dughi, Hewit & Palatucci for the US Attorney‟s office.
In 2005, after representing CEC for 15 years, Palatucci joined the company as its Senior Vice
President and General Counsel for Public Affairs. Palatucci‟s experience working with
government was one of the things that John Clancy noted as making Palatucci a valuable
addition to the company. In a press release about Palatucci joining CEC John Clancy is quoted
as saying “He has the experience, the proven leadership skills, and the practical understanding of
how government works, which will be instrumental in growing our business from the eight states
we presently serve to our goal of more than 20 over the next five years."
Though they no longer are employed at the same law firm, Christie and Palatucci clearly stay in
touch. As US Attorney, Christie attends both the ribbon cutting ceremony in November of 2007
for CEC‟s new corporate headquarters in West Caldwell and the ten year anniversary celebration
in April of 2008 of Talbot Hall. As Governor, Christie makes an official appearance at the tenth
anniversary celebration of Delaney Hall. Pictures from the Delaney Hall event were even posted
to Governor Christie‟s official website.
Chris Christie‟s first year in office was marked by drastic and dramatic cuts to all types of
programs from schools to transportation. However, one area sees funding restored after an initial
cut. Christie restores $3 million in funding for halfway houses. It is hard to imagine how this
would not have benefited CEC which held a little over fifty percent of the bed space for the types
of programs for which the money had been allocated.
No direct evidence has been uncovered that Palatucci directly solicited the governor to restore
New Jersey State funding for halfway houses. To the contrary, Palatucci has said that he has
refrained from all lobbying in New Jersey and does not talk to Christie about CEC‟s business.
However, that does not mean that CEC stopped lobbying in Trenton. In 2010 CEC‟s political
campaign contributions in New Jersey dropped off significantly while it spent $110,000 on
lobbying in Trenton. According to New Jersey Election Law Commission reports, CEC is
ranked 147 out of 495 in terms of New Jersey lobbying expenditures (just behind Novo Nordisk
and just ahead of Metlife). The money was recorded as fees to two different firms Cammarano
& Hagan Partners, LLC and 1868 Public Affairs for the purpose of “Community Corrections
Funding”. 1868 Public Affairs has as one of its senior partners former New Jersey State
Assemblyman and Essex County Freeholder Leroy Jones, and currently employs Joe

DiVincenzo‟s son. According to a report filed with New Jersey‟s Election Law Enforcement
Commission, CEC is the fifth largest client of 1868 Public Affairs among the 21 listed.
Whether Palatucci personally goes to Trenton or not, it is unlikely that he does not oversee the
lobbying done on CEC‟s behalf.

Delaney Hall
Delaney Hall is a correctional facilty located on the property adjacent to the Essex County
Correctional Facility and just 800 feet away. CEC‟s website states that it has a capacity to hold
1,196 males. In September of 2011 it began housing female ICE detainees as well. It is listed as
a residential rehab facility, but according to newspaper reports as well as anecdotal accounts
from community members that it also serves as overflow for men charged with “minor offenses”.
In June of 2009, Scott Faunce, who was then the Director of Corrections for Essex County at the
time, told the Star Ledger that the policy determining who could be housed in Delaney Hall was
based largely on bail amounts, not the type of crime. An inmate with a bail amount of less than
$75,000 or less could be considered for incarceration at the less restrictive Delaney Hall.
The property itself has an interesting history. According to documents furnished by CEC as part
of the response to the second RFP that Essex County issued for the immigration detention
subcontract, it was granted a variance by the City of Newark Zoning Board of Adjustment on
April 14, 1993. Blonnie Watson, who became a freeholder in 1996 voted in favor. The City
Council of Newark, by way of an ordinance, expanded the allowable use of the property in 1998
to include: “a „custodial facility‟” which it defined as “a residential facility to house custodial
adults who are required to reside in such a facility as a result of a court or administrative order.”
In June of 1999 CEC finalized the purchase of the property on Doremus Ave where Delaney Hall
is now located. Records show ownership of the property was transferred to Community
Corrections Urban Renewal Corp from Nothern Real Estate Urban Renewal Company. A
previous transaction in 1998 shows the property changes hands from BancShares Realty to
Northern Real Estate with an address listed as in care of the Emar Group, which is a subsidiary
of Wells Fargo Insurance. CEC finalizes the sale of the property on Doremus Avenue just six
months after the Essex County Improvement Authority purchased the adjacent property on which
the old Celanese Chemical Plant had been located. Delaney Hall opened in 2000 as a 700 bed
facility.In 2002 John Clancy began donating heavily to the Essex County Democrats by writing a
check in the amount of $25,000.
Delaney Hall‟s original purpose was as a halfway house but in 2004, when the new jail was
finished, Delaney Hall began taking overflow from the adjacent Essex County Correctional
Facility. The need to alleviate the new jail from potential overcrowding is so great that CEC
signs another contract with Essex County in May of 2006, worth $3 million annually, to accept
prisoners at Logan Hall.
In 2003, CEC sells Delaney Hall to for-profit prison operator GEO Group‟s Real Estate
Investment Trust spinoff, Correctional Properties Trust (CPT) and to lease it back. The details

of the lease agreement will also allow CEC to add in $3 million to renovate the facility and
expand the number of beds to the present 1,196. The initial base rent rate was $2.31 million per
annum or 11.0% of the facility purchase price. Following the first year and continuing during the
term of the lease, base rent was set to increase by 3.0% annually on each anniversary.
In 2006, the GEO Group absorbed its REIT, CPT, after a maneuver at its annual meeting, to
drive down its stock price in order to facilitate purchase by the parent corporation. Title to
Delaney Hall transfers to the GEO Group with the purchase of CPT. Delaney Hall is currently
listed in the GEO Group‟s SEC filings as a correctional facility which it owns, but does not
operate.
In June of 2008 Delaney Hall began housing immigrant detainees for Essex County as part of a
US Marshall‟s contract on which ICE was an authorized agency. Shortly after, in November of
the same year, Mamadou Bah escapes from Delaney Hall and is picked up, but not before
making his way to Virginia. All of the ICE detainees were then moved into the jail.
On May 18, 2009, Derek West Harris, who was being held on a traffic violation, was is
murdered by fellow inmates at Delaney Hall. His murderers are fellow inmates who were being
held on various weapons and narcotics violations.
Only a year and a half later on December 20, 2010 ICE officially announces that it has selected
Essex County Correctional Facility and Delaney Hall as site of new detention facility. Bo
Robinson is also mentioned as an expansion option. The facility is somehow hailed as a model
for immigration detention.
By October 7, 2011 transfers of all detainees from the Elizabeth Detention Center, another
privately held facility run by Corrections Corp of America, to Delaney Hall are completed.

Conclusion & End Note
Though the number and the degree of political connections and campaign contributions may be
unique to Essex County what is driving local governments and corporations to embrace the
expansion of immigration detention is money. This is the same across the country. Money is
providing political power and further enriching corporations which in turn provide more money
and more political power.
Whether outright corruption exists or this is just a corporation making the most of political
conditions for its own gain remains to be seen. What is evident is that the political situation in
Essex County does not lend itself to oversight much less transparency. .The checks and balances
of divided government are not functioning.
The culture of secrecy and the lack of transparency in immigration detention in New Jersey
continue as well in the latest expansion in Essex County. This does not bode well for the 1,250
people who are being held at the behest of ICE, and for the remuneration of $108/day. Because
these individuals are locked up out of the public view it is easy for mistreatment and abuse to be
overlooked or even covered up and the money provides incentive to do so.
Individuals in any prison populations are also more vulnerable because the limitations on their
freedom make accessing the individuals or the organizations responsible for oversight more
difficult. This is the case, even more so, for individuals in immigration detention who do not
have a right by law to legal counsel.
The Essex County legislators, responsible for the care of the people in their custody under the
new ICE contract, would be well served to institute a community oversight board to prevent New
Jersey‟s sad and tragic history with immigrants in detention from repeating itself in Essex
County.
.

Appendices
I.
Timeline CEC’s other NJ facilities
1996 The Harbor opens in Hoboken http://www.cecintl.com/facilities_rr_nj_001.html
1997 Albert M. “Bo” Robinson opens in Trenton and expands with additional higher security
building in 2008.
1998 Tully House opens in Newark
2001 Wynona M. Lipman Education and Training Center opens in Newark.
2002 NJ State officials suspend admissions at Wynona M. Lipman after numerous allegations of
abuse including the “misuse of physical restraints”.
2003 In September eight staff members are fired following an investigation into the beating of a
17-year-old inmate. The boy who was held down by a staff member while another kicked him
was denied medical treatment until the following morning, 9 hours after the incident occurred.
The young man‟s injuries required that he be hospitalized for two days.
2003 In May in the press release announcing the sale and lease-back of Delaney Hall there is a
note about inmates being held at the facility under contracts with Union and Hudson Counties.
2004 Wynona M. Lipman Education and Training Center closes, reportedly due to financial
problems It reopens in June as Logan Hall and switches inmate populations from adolescent
males to adults in the “halfway back” program.

II.
CEC’s Campaign Contributions
1997
Date
09/12/97
07/21/97
02/06/97
03/12/97
07/21/97
03/11/97
07/21/97
08/29/97

Amount
$15,000
$2,100
$525
$1,575
$2,100
$2,100
$2,100
$2,100

Recipient
NJ Republican State Cmte
Christine Todd Whitman
Christine Todd Whitman
Christine Todd Whitman
Christine Todd Whitman
Christine Todd Whitman
Christine Todd Whitman
James McGreevey

Donor
Community Corrections Corp
Community Corrections Corp
John J. Clancy
John J. Clancy
John J. Clancy
Jesse K. Clancy
Jesse K. Clancy
Jesse K. Clancy

Amount
$15,000
$7,500
$5,000
$5,000
$1,750
$600
$500
$1,000

Recipient
NJ Republican State Cmte
Senate Democratic Majority „01
Essex Co Republican Cmte
Essex Co Republican Cmte
Mercer Co Republican Cmte
Essex Co Democratic Cmte
Essex Co Democratic Cmte
Essex Co Democratic Cmte

Donor
Community Corrections Corp
Community Corrections Corp
Community Corrections Corp
Community Corrections Corp
Community Corrections Corp
John J. Clancy
John J. Clancy
John J. Clancy

Amount
$20,000
$10,000
$1,500
$5,400
$7,500
$5,000
$1,000
$1,800
$2,700
$1,500
$1,750

Recipient
NJ Republican State Cmte
Essex Co Republican Cmte
Essex Co Republican Cmte
Election Funds Mercer Co Dems
Senate Democratic Majority „01
NJ Democratic State Cmte
NJ Democratic State Cmte
Joseph N DiVincenzo Jr.
Essex Co Democratic Cmte
Essex Co Democratic Cmte
Essex Co Democratic Cmte

Donor
Community Corrections Corp
Community Corrections Corp
Community Corrections Corp
Community Corrections Corp
Community Corrections Corp
Community Corrections Corp
Community Corrections Corp
Community Corrections Corp
John J. Clancy
John J. Clancy
John J. Clancy

1998
Date
09/01/98
05/05/98
10/15/98
11/02/98
03/13/98
02&05/98
08/10/98
10/08/98

1999
Date
09/03/99
04/01/99
10/25/99
09/08/99
03/18/99
10/08/99
10/08/99
04/21/99
02/25/99
05/24/99
08&10/99

2000
Date
12/12/00
05/11/00
05/26/00
03/28/00
11/17/00
06/21/00
09/26/00
07&09/00
05/10/00
09/01/00
09/26/00
03&04/00
05/15/00
10/14/00

Amount
$30,000
$10,000
$10,000
$8,000
$5,000
$1,000
$2,500
$2,000
$125
$1,000
$1,000
$800
$1,500
$350

Recipient
NJ State Democratic Cmte
NJ Republican State Cmte
NJ Republican State Cmte
Senate Democratic Majority „01
Senate Democratic Majority „01
Assembly Republican Majority
Assembly Republican Majority
Hudson Co Democratic Org
Hudson Co Democratic Org
James E. McGreevey
James E. McGreevey
Essex Co Democratic Cmte
Essex Co Democratic Cmte
Essex Co Democratic Cmte

Donor
Community Corrections Corp
Community Corrections Corp
Community Corrections Corp
Community Corrections Corp
Community Corrections Corp
Community Corrections Corp
Community Corrections Corp
Community Corrections Corp
Community Corrections Corp
Community Corrections Corp
Community Corrections Corp
John J. Clancy
John J. Clancy
John J. Clancy

Amount
$37,000
$18,000
$15,000
$12,000
-$8,000
$10,000
$10,000
$17,000
$2,000
$5,000
$2,000
$1,000
$10,000
$800
$1,500
$250

Recipient
Essex Co Democratic Cmte
Senate Democratic Majority „01
Senate Democratic Majority „01
Senate Democratic Majority „01
Senate Democratic Majority „01
NJ Republican State Cmte
NJ Republican State Cmte
NJ Republican State Cmte
Senate Republican Majority
Senate Republican Majority
NJ Democratic State Cmte
Hudson Co Democratic Org
Senate Democratic Majority „01
Essex Co Democratic Cmte
Essex Co Democratic Cmte
Essex Co Democratic Cmte

Donor
Community Corrections Corp
Community Corrections Corp
Community Corrections Corp
Community Corrections Corp
Community Corrections Corp
Community Corrections Corp
Community Corrections Corp
Community Corrections Corp
Community Corrections Corp
Community Corrections Corp
Community Corrections Corp
Community Corrections Corp
Community Corrections Corp
John J. Clancy
John J. Clancy
John J. Clancy

2001
Date
09/30/01
02/27/01
05/14/01
06/30/01
08/06/01
05/01/01
05/23/01
10/23/01
04/09/01
09/25/01
02/27/01
04/25/01
09/28/01
04/09/01
05/07/01
08/13/01

2002
Date
06/06/02
06/07/02
04/04/02
11/26/02
04/25/02
09/10/02
10/25/02
10/17/02
03/11/02
08/27/02

Amount
$10,000
$15,000
$12,500
$5,000
$10,000
$1,000
$10,000
$10,000
$400
$25,000

Recipient
NJ Republican State Cmte
NJ Republican State Cmte
Senate Democratic Majority „01
Senate Democratic Majority „01
NJ Democratic State Cmte
NJ Democratic State Cmte
Hudson Co Democratic Org
Union Co Democratic Cmte
Essex Co Democratic Cmte
Essex Co Democratic Cmte

Donor
Community Corrections Corp
Community Corrections Corp
Community Corrections Corp
Community Corrections Corp
Community Corrections Corp
Community Corrections Corp
Community Corrections Corp
Community Corrections Corp
John J. Clancy
John J. Clancy

2003
Date
02/23/03
03/12/03
05/28/03
10/15/03
03/09/03
10/21/03
02&10/03
01/24/03
06/23/03

Amount
$25,000
$25,000
$25,000
$10,000
$800
$5,000
$2,500
$1,000
$25,000

Recipient
New Democratic Assy Leadership
NJ Democratic State Cmte
Senate Democratic Majority „01
Union Co Democratic Cmte
Union Co Democratic Cmte
Assembly Republican Majority
Bergen Co Democratic Org
Hudson Co Democratic Org
Senate Democratic Majority

Donor
Community Corrections Corp
Community Corrections Corp
Community Corrections Corp
Community Corrections Corp
Community Corrections Corp
Community Corrections Corp
Community Corrections Corp
Community Corrections Corp
John J. Clancy

2004
For-profit company changed name to Community Education Centers, Inc. Note the $8,000
contribution to Essex County Democrats was made in the name of CEC in May 2004, while a
$1,200 contribution to Union County Democrats was made in the name of CCC in June of 2004
Date
03/15/04
05/24/04
08/24/04
01/23/04
04/06/04
02/06/04
11/09/04
01/21/04
04/05/04

Amount
$25,000
$8,000
$10,000
$1,000
$1,000
$800
$2,000
$1,000
$1,000

Recipient
Senate Democratic Majority
Essex Co Democratic Cmte
Essex Co Democratic Cmte
NJ Democratic State Cmte
NJ Democratic State Cmte
Union Co Democratic Cmte
Assembly Republican Victory „05
Hudson Co Democratic Org
Joseph Cryan

Donor
Community Corrections Corp
Community Education Centers
Community Education Centers
Community Corrections Corp
Community Education Centers
Community Corrections Corp
Community Corrections Corp
Community Corrections Corp
John Clancy

2005
Date
03/02/05
10/21/05
09/30/05
10/19/05
04/21/05
06/17/05
04/27/05
03/11/05

Amount
$25,000
$10,000
$5,000
$5,000
$5,000
$1,000
$1,000
$3,000

Recipient
New Democratic Assy Leadership
NJ Republican State Cmte
NJ Democratic State Cmte
Blee & Conover- 2nd District Repub
Mercer Co Democratic Cmte
Camden Co Democratic Cmte
Hudson Co Democratic Org
Senate Democratic Leadership

Donor
Community Education Centers
Community Education Centers
Community Education Centers
Community Education Centers
Community Education Centers
Community Education Centers
Community Education Centers
John Clancy

Amount
$25,000
$25,000
$3,000
$2,000
$2,600
$15,000

Recipient
Senate Democratic Leadership
Democratic Assy Campaign Cmte
Union Co Democratic Cmte
Essex Co Democratic Cmte
Douglas H. Palmer, Mayor Trenton
Essex Co Democratic Cmte

Donor
Community Education Centers
Community Education Centers
Community Education Centers
Community Education Centers
Community Education Centers
John Clancy

Amount
$25,000
$25,000
$3,000
$2,000
$2,600
$15,000

Recipient
Senate Democratic Leadership
Democratic Assy Campaign Cmte
Union Co Democratic Cmte
Essex Co Democratic Cmte
Douglas H. Palmer, Mayor Trenton
Essex Co Democratic Cmte

Donor
Community Education Centers
Community Education Centers
Community Education Centers
Community Education Centers
Community Education Centers
John Clancy

2006
Date
03/02/06
03/05/06
03/11/06
05/23/06
09/01/06
10/26/06

2007
Date
03/02/06
03/05/06
03/11/06
05/23/06
09/01/06
10/26/06

2008
Date
03/13/08
03/07/08
11/13/08
07/08/08
11/04/08
04/13/08
07/06/08
07/06/08
07/06/08
04/13/08
04/13/08
04/13/08
04/13/08
04/13/08

Amount
$25,000
$15,000
$10,000
$5,000
$5,000
$2,000
$2,600
$2,600
$2,400
$2,600
$2,600
$2,600
$2,600
$2,000

Recipient
Democratic Assy Campaign Cmte
Senate Democratic Majority
Senate Democratic Majority
NJ Democratic State Cmte
Essex Co Democratic Cmte
Joseph N DiVincenzo Jr
Douglas H Palmer
Douglas H Palmer
Douglas H Palmer
Joseph N DiVincenzo Jr
Joseph N DiVincenzo Jr
Joseph N DiVincenzo Jr
Joseph N DiVincenzo Jr
Joseph N ? Jr

Donor
Community Education Centers
Community Education Centers
Community Education Centers
Community Education Centers
Community Education Centers
Community Education Centers
Community Education Centers
William J Palatucci
John J. Clancy
John Clancy, Jr
Jesse Clancy
Jessica Clancy
Jaclyn Clancy
John Clancy

2009
Date
10/28/09
03/25/09
09/16/09
04&05/09
08/24/09
06/29/09
10/30/09
10/15/09
03/16/09
01/16/09
03/07/09
06/30/09
06/30/09

Amount
$25,000
$15,000
$5,000
$2,600
$1,000
$2,500
$1,000
$2,000
$600
$3,400
$3,400
$3,400
$3,400

Recipient
Democratic Assy Campaign Cmte
Senate Democratic Majority
NJ Democratic State Cmte
Essex Co Democratic Cmte
Essex Co Democratic Cmte
Sheila Y Oliver
Sheila Y Oliver
Armando B Fontoura-Essex Sheriff
Ralph R Caputo-Assembly
Chris Christie
Chris Christie
Chris Christie
Chris Christie

Donor
Community Education Centers
Community Education Centers
Community Education Centers
Community Education Centers
Community Education Centers
Community Education Centers
Community Education Centers
Community Education Centers
Community Education Centers
William J Palatucci
Laura M Palatucci
William J Palatucci
Laura M Palatucci

2010
CEC, by this time, has hired two outside lobbying firms at the cost of over $100,000 per year.
Date
Amount Recipient
Donor
04/20/10 $1,000
Essex Co Democratic Cmte
Community Education Centers
08/30/10 $2,000
Barbara Buono – State Senate
Community Education Centers
06/30/10 $1,500
Democratic Assy Campaign Cmte
John J Clancy
08/09/10 $1,000
Essex Co Democratic Cmte
John & Jesse Clancy
10/26/10 $400
Essex Co Democratic Cmte
John Clancy
10/15/10 $500
Patricia Sebold – 2011 Primary
John Clancy

IV.
Preventable deaths of people in CEC’s custody
Year
2004

Detainee
Geary Turner

Age
56

2007

Caleb Jensen

15

2008

21

2010

Victor ChavezChavez
Derek West
Harris
Vicky Fay Purcell

2011

Amber Redden

27

2009



51
51

Facility
Coleman Hall, Juniata Park,
PA
Alternative Youth
Adventures, Montrose, CO
Ector County Correction
Center, Odessa, TX
Delaney Hall, Newark, NJ

Description
Shot to death

Ector County Correction
Center, Odessa, Tx
Liberty Hall, Indianapolis, IN

Committed suicide in isolation

Died of untreated staph infection
Committed suicide, charged with
illegal entry by the U.S. Marshals
Murdered by fellow inmates

Died from complications from
ruptured ectopic pregnancy after
delay in medical care for nearly 12
hours