Chesterfield, NJ – State officials gathered in Chesterfield, New Jersey, on Wednesday to mark the start of construction on a new $310 million, 420-bed women’s correctional facility, a project that promises to replace the scandal-ridden Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women and symbolize a long-awaited reform in the state’s criminal justice system.
The new complex, situated on a 33-acre site in Burlington County, will replace the 112-year-old Edna Mahan prison in Clinton, which Governor Phil Murphy ordered closed in 2021 following years of abuse, corruption, and federal oversight. The first phase is slated to open in 2027, with full completion expected in 2028.
Standing before a grassy expanse that will soon house the new prison, Murphy described the groundbreaking as “a new chapter for criminal justice in New Jersey.”
“For decades, Edna Mahan has stood as a shameful symbol of a deeply flawed status quo,” Murphy said. “This new facility will prioritize safety, dignity, and rehabilitation, not only for those incarcerated but for the staff who work within its walls.”
From Scandal to Reform
The Edna Mahan facility, once the state’s only women’s prison, became synonymous with misconduct after a violent 2021 incident in which more than a dozen correctional officers brutally assaulted inmates during forced cell extractions. The attacks led to federal intervention and the arrests of several officers.
Since then, the New Jersey Department of Corrections (DOC) has launched what officials call a “cultural reformation.” DOC Commissioner Victoria Kuhn said reforms include body cameras for staff, trauma-informed training, and new programs focused on education, vocational skills, addiction recovery, and mental health support.
“When the doors of this new facility open, the foundation for its success will already have been laid through the reforms we’ve made,” Kuhn said.
Officials also noted that relocating the prison from Hunterdon County to a more central location in Burlington County will make it easier for families to visit incarcerated women, a key factor in successful rehabilitation and reentry.
Justice Delayed and Questions Unresolved
The groundbreaking comes just weeks after a state judge dismissed indictments against 14 officers charged in the 2021 Edna Mahan assaults, citing “negligence” and an unconstitutional delay in prosecution. The decision sparked outrage among advocates, who say survivors have been denied justice.
Governor Murphy expressed frustration over the ruling, saying he was “bitter, disappointed, and angry” but declined to elaborate as the Attorney General’s Office appeals the decision.
Meanwhile, advocates are pushing lawmakers to pass new legislation that would permanently codify protections for incarcerated women, strengthening oversight, officer training, and sexual misconduct prevention measures.
“We want to ensure these reforms are never rolled back,” said Kuhn, who expects the bill to advance when legislators reconvene in November.
Terry Schuster, New Jersey’s corrections ombudsperson, urged lawmakers to act before the legislative session ends and before a new governor takes office in January.
“We don’t know what’s going to happen after the election,” Schuster said. “It’s vital that these policies be written into law so that we never go backward.”
A New Era — or a Familiar Cycle?
The new women’s facility will sit near the former Albert C. Wagner Youth Correctional Facility, which closed in 2017, and the nearby Garden State Youth Center, which currently houses about 1,000 young men.
Still, critics argue that building a new prison, rather than investing in alternatives to incarceration, risks repeating the same mistakes under a new roof. Advocates for prison reform continue to call for expanded reentry programs, mental health services, and diversion initiatives instead of costly new construction.
Murphy defended the investment, citing the dire state of New Jersey’s correctional infrastructure.
“With limited funds, you have to prioritize,” the governor said. “Fixing Edna Mahan wasn’t just about repairing a building; it was about restoring public trust. This is our top priority, and today marks a big step forward.”
Midtown Times Analysis: A Symbolic Rebuild Amid Lingering Distrust
The construction of the new Edna Mahan facility represents more than just replacing crumbling walls; it’s an effort to rebuild the credibility of a system long plagued by scandal.
Governor Murphy’s administration has positioned the project as a cornerstone of his legacy on criminal justice reform, aiming to modernize correctional philosophy and improve conditions for women behind bars. But skepticism remains.
Advocates question whether a $310 million investment in a new prison truly addresses the root causes of abuse, overcrowding, and neglect that defined Edna Mahan for decades. Others see it as a necessary, if imperfect, step toward a more humane and accountable correctional system.
As the steel and concrete rise in Chesterfield over the next three years, New Jersey will have to confront a larger question: Can a new facility truly transform the culture of incarceration, or will it simply relocate an old problem to a new address?
The Midtown Times Editorial Desk.
