Inmates Sue Hudson County Jail Over Alleged Mistreatment

Inmates at Hudson County Correctional Facility filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday alleging systematic mistreatment including overcrowding, inadequate medical care, and unsanitary conditions that violate their constitutional rights.

The class-action suit targets the county jail in Kearny, which houses roughly 2,400 inmates and has faced criticism for years over conditions inside the aging facility. The lawsuit seeks monetary damages and court-ordered reforms to address what attorneys describe as “deliberate indifference” to prisoner welfare.

“These men and women are being held in conditions that would shock the conscience of any reasonable person,” said Maria Santos, lead attorney for the plaintiffs. “Overcrowding has reached dangerous levels, medical care is virtually nonexistent, and basic sanitation has broken down.”

The 47-page complaint details allegations spanning several years under the facility’s current administration. Inmates claim cells designed for single occupancy routinely house three people, with some sleeping on floors. The lawsuit describes broken toilets left unrepaired for months, black mold in living areas, and rats in food preparation areas.

Medical care draws particularly sharp criticism in the filing. Inmates allege routine delays in treatment, inadequate staffing in the medical unit, and denial of prescription medications. One plaintiff claims he went six months without diabetes medication despite repeated requests. Another describes waiting three weeks for treatment after breaking his wrist during a fall.

Hudson County officials declined to comment on pending litigation but issued a statement defending jail operations.

“Hudson County Correctional Facility operates in compliance with all state and federal regulations,” said county spokesman James Rodriguez. “We take seriously any allegations regarding inmate welfare and will respond appropriately through the legal process.”

The facility has faced scrutiny before. A 2019 state inspection found violations related to overcrowding and medical care that resulted in $180,000 in fines. Federal authorities investigated conditions in 2021 following complaints from inmates and advocacy groups, though no charges resulted.

Corrections reform advocates say the lawsuit reflects broader problems across New Jersey’s county jail system. State data shows occupancy rates exceed capacity at seven of the state’s 21 county facilities, with Hudson County among the most overcrowded.

“This is not an isolated problem,” said Patricia Williams, director of the New Jersey Prison Justice Coalition. “Counties have been cutting corners on jail operations for years while populations grow. Something has to give, and it’s usually prisoner welfare.”

The timing coincides with broader discussions about criminal justice reform in Trenton. Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill has indicated Politics & Government reforms will be a priority when she takes office next month, though her transition team has not specified jail conditions as a focus area.

Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise, who oversees jail operations, faces pressure from both inmates’ families and county residents concerned about conditions and costs. The facility’s $87 million annual budget represents nearly 15 percent of county spending, yet overcrowding forces the county to house some inmates in other facilities at additional cost.

The lawsuit seeks class certification for all current and former inmates who experienced allegedly unconstitutional conditions since 2020. If successful, it could result in court-ordered reforms similar to those imposed on Newark’s jail system following a 2018 settlement.

Under that agreement, Essex County invested $25 million in facility improvements and hired additional medical staff after inmates sued over similar conditions. A federal monitor continues overseeing compliance five years later.

Among the reforms sought in the Hudson County case: limits on cell occupancy, improved medical staffing, regular facility maintenance, and independent monitoring of conditions. The lawsuit also demands monetary damages for inmates who suffered from alleged constitutional violations.

Current and former corrections officers have privately expressed concerns about conditions inside the facility, according to sources familiar with operations. Staffing shortages force mandatory overtime shifts and limit time available for facility maintenance, the sources said.

The Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association Local 109, representing corrections officers, did not respond to requests for comment.

Inmate families have organized to draw attention to conditions inside the jail. Rosa Martinez, whose son has been held there for eight months awaiting trial, said she has seen him lose weight and develop a persistent cough.

“He tells me they’re sleeping on the floor, that the food makes them sick, that they can’t see a doctor when they need one,” Martinez said. “This is America. People shouldn’t be treated like animals even if they made mistakes.”

The case joins similar litigation nationwide as advocates challenge jail conditions in federal court. Courts have found constitutional violations in facilities across the country, often resulting in consent decrees requiring systematic reforms.

Hudson County faces additional pressure from state officials monitoring jail conditions statewide. The Department of Corrections conducts annual inspections and can impose fines or other sanctions for violations of state standards.

County budget documents show spending on jail operations has increased 23 percent over five years even as officials have deferred maintenance on the 40-year-old facility. A 2020 engineering study found $18 million in needed repairs, though the county has allocated only $3.2 million for improvements.

The lawsuit could force faster action on reforms that advocates say are long overdue. Federal judges have broad authority to order changes when constitutional violations are proven, including appointing independent monitors to oversee compliance.

A case management conference is scheduled for February 15 in U.S. District Court in Newark. Hudson County has 30 days to file a formal response to the allegations.

Meanwhile, daily operations continue at the facility as the legal process unfolds. Intake of new inmates averages 15-20 per day, adding to overcrowding that the lawsuit claims has reached crisis levels.

For inmates and their families, the federal case represents hope for changes they say cannot come soon enough.

“My brother has been in there two years waiting for trial,” said Anthony Russo of Jersey City. “Two years of sleeping on floors and eating garbage. Even if he’s innocent, he’s already been punished enough.”