Judge demands explanation for overcrowded Camden County jail

A federal judge wants Camden County to explain why its overcrowded jail has gone through five population managers in four years and why the position has been empty since November.

The Courier-Post reports that U.S. District Judge Jerome Simandle said in a Jan. 26 letter that he was very concerned about the lack of a full-time population manager. He requests a special report from the county.

The letter came as part of a 10-year-old class action lawsuit over jail conditions.

County spokesman Dan Keashen says that an interim population manager will be provided early next month while they search for a permanent manager.

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Nichole Acchione, a lawyer for inmates, says she will ask Simandle to impose population caps on the jail.

Population managers work to reduce the number of inmates in a jail.

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