The purpose and intent of the Task Force is to provide public
oversight, transparency and accountability with respect to the policies,
procedures, practices, supervision, management, and training at the
ECCF. The Task Force is dedicated to protecting the lives, health,
safety, and rights of all people confined at the ECCF and ensuring
that the conditions of their confinement are safe, sanitary, respectful,
and humane. The Task Force shall review systemic concerns, make detailed
recommendations to the County Executive, the ECCF administration and
the BOCC and engage with people detained, jailed, or incarcerated
in the ECCF. The Task Force's processes shall be fair, impartial,
consistent, thorough, timely, understandable, and transparent. The
Task Force shall reflect the diversity of the community and bring
the community's voices, priorities, and experiences to bear in improving
ECCF policies, procedures, practices, supervision, management, and
training.
There is established the Essex County Correctional Facility
Civilian Task Force, an independent, nondepartmental entity within
the governing body of Essex County.
Each member shall successfully complete a training program,
mutually agreed upon by the County and the Task Force and at the County’s
expense, prior to commencement of their duties. Failure to complete
the training may result in disqualification.
Meeting requirements. The Task Force shall meet four times per
year, or more frequently as deemed necessary. At least one meeting
of the Task Force shall be open to the public.
Self-evaluation provisions. At the end of the third year of
the Task Force's creation and every three years thereafter, the Task
Force shall undertake a detailed self-evaluation.
A. This detailed
self-evaluation shall include a candid assessment about the strengths,
weaknesses, successes and failures of the Task Force. It shall also
contain recommendations as to whether the Task Force should continue
in existence and if so, any recommended revisions to its responsibilities
and operations and whether an independent management audit should
be conducted.
B. The self-evaluation
shall be submitted to the County Executive and the Board of County
Commissioners (BOCC) and made available to the public, subject to
applicable privileges and protections
C. Within one
year following the publication of the self-evaluation, the Task Force
shall provide a written report to the County Executive and the BOCC
regarding the status of the implementation of the recommendations
identified in the self-evaluation. This written report shall be made
available to the public, subject to applicable privileges and protections.
Nature and scope of cooperation. County officials shall use
good faith efforts to cooperate with the Task Force.
A. The ECCF
shall cooperate with Task Force reviews by allowing the Task Force
reasonable access to the ECCF and to speak with people employed and
confined there, and provide to the Task Force upon reasonable request
public records and other public materials which are rationally related
to their review.
B. County officials
shall promptly refer to the Task Force instances of misconduct, conditions,
policies, practices, and incidents falling within the Task Force's
jurisdiction. County officials and employees shall make all efforts
to ensure the preservation of related recordings and documents.
C. ECCF administration
shall receive and review reports and recommendations of the Task Force
and take such actions as may be appropriate in response.
D. Nothing
herein shall be read or construed to abolish, transfer, or curtail
the power and duties of any elected official.
E. The provisions
of this chapter shall not be construed to limit or impair the authority
of the ECCF Director to discipline members of the ECCF, adopt or amend
policies and/or procedures of the ECCF, or investigate complaints
or incidents to which the ECCF is made known.