Cumberland County Jail  

The Cumberland County Jail, New Jersey is managed by the Cumberland County Department of Corrections. It is under the direction of the Board of Chosen Freeholders.

Its history dates back to the earliest beginnings of the United States. The jail was erected in 1748 when the area was part of the West Jersey Province. Legislation, known at the Act of 1747 set the requirements to be sheriff. It was required that sheriffs be fully invested in the county by being able to vote and by owning property within the county.

The first jail was made from logs. It was only a 12x12 square. Later on a pair of stocks were added in front of the building. A pillory was also added. The Cumberland County Jail in New Jersey was moved several times before its current location at West Broad Street in Bridgeton.

The infamous day of June 2, 1979 is the date of the most violent uprising to ever take place. On this day, a small group of inmates took two jail employees hostage. They then released all remaining inmates from their jail cells. Despite negotiations, several inmates tried to escape by using hostages as human shields. The SWAT team moved in. By the end of the standoff two inmates died and a jail employee was wounded.

Today's jail is nothing like the one of the past. It is a modern day facility In addition to social services, medical and other types of services are provided to the inmates. Prisoners from within the county may be housed there and so may prisoners of the state. It has an average daily population of 623 inmates.

Cumberland County is situated on the banks of the Deleware River. It is only 2 hours from the larger cities of both New York and Baltimore.