Reply April 22, 2021 Memorandum of agreement with Essex County ensures continued care of Union County prisoners; County jail will remain open as hub to temporarily detain and transport prisoners to Essex. Subscribe In a measure that will save Union County more than $103 million over five years while ensuring the continued care of its prisoners, the County of Union today announced it is closing major operations at its jail in Elizabeth, and sending its prisoners to the Essex County Correctional facility in Newark. The jail will cease the long-term housing of prisoners effective July 1st, and will begin operating as a hub to intake, process, temporarily detain and transport prisoners to the Essex County Correctional facility. Shuttle buses will also be available to transport those wishing to visit prisoners in Essex County.