TOMS RIVER – As concrete columns rise up from the construction site on Hooper Avenue by Madison Avenue, work is progressing on the new Ocean County Justice Complex Annex.

Representatives from Clarke Caton Hintz, the project architect provided an update on the work to the Ocean County Board of Commissioners during their March 26 preboard meeting.

"Ocean County has seen a need for quite a while now for security upgrades and operational efficiencies for the courts and related services," said Director of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners John P. Kelly, who serves as liaison to the courts. "As a result of various studies, the Board of Commissioners approved the construction of the Justice Complex Annex. This is also after extensive renovations to the current Justice Complex that added more offices and courtroom space.

"Our overall goal is to create a building that is functional, cost effective and right-sized. We are building what we need," Kelly said. "The project design advantages include a single secure entrance and screening location and separated circulation for the public, judges and prisoners giving us the opportunity to solve one of our biggest problems which is the movement of people in the facility."

According to Matthew Mulkeen, Senior Associate for Clarke Caton Hintz, concrete foundations, columns, and slabs have been completed at the northeast portion of the construction site and work is progressing at the southwest half of the site.

A primary feeder relocation to be done by Jersey Central Power & Light Company is expected to begin within the next two weeks while the buildings steel framing is being fabricated offsite and will be brought to the site in April.

"Once the steel has been installed, all the trades will follow closely behind rapidly increasing activity on site," Mulkeen said.

The new 4-story Justice Annex building is approximately 155,000 gross square feet which will connect directly into the existing Ocean County Justice Complex at 120 Hooper Ave., the Ocean County Parking Garage across Hooper Avenue, and the existing Ocean County Jail.

The building will serve as the central security screening and entrance to the entire justice complex. It consists of eight new criminal courtrooms, jury assembly, and holding cells to streamline criminal trails and plan for future growth.

The building will also consolidate offices for Trial Court Administration, Probation, Finance, and Criminal Court Offices and contains two separate parking garages.

As a safety enhancement, the Superior Court Judges will arrive to a secure parking garage and are provided direct dedicated circulation to their chambers and courtrooms.

"This enhances security and safety for everyone using the facility," Kelly said.

He added that while the Superior Courts are a function of state government, the county is responsible for the facilities they are housed in.

"Ocean County takes care of Ocean County's needs," Kelly said.

The public will access the building by using the overhead walkway across Hooper Avenue that is attached to the Ocean County Parking Garage. The walkway is also undergoing extensive renovations as part of the work.

"The new building also allows for consolidation of court facilities into fewer buildings ultimately providing a reduction in building leases," Kelly said. "In order to meet the needs of the court system, we have relied on rentals or leases of space around the downtown area.

"We had family courts, probation services, and even a criminal court scattered among more than a dozen buildings in Toms River," he said. "This new building will answer the challenges we have been working with."

Mulkeen said the building should be enclosed by January of 2026 at which time interior work will move forward and furnishings and equipment will move in around August of 2026.

While some of the Commissioners questioned if the building would be delivered on time, the Board was assured that any delays would be made up as work progresses.

"We will hold everyone accountable to make up any delays and have the work completed as anticipated," said Ocean County Commissioner Frank Sadeghi.