MOUD and Reentry Supports at Camden County Jail: What Families Should Know

Camden County Department of Corrections has offered Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) since June 2018. That's not a pilot program or one-off service - it's an established part of the facility. The jail started with naltrexone, then expanded in February 2019 to include buprenorphine and methadone. In 2021, they added Sublocade, an extended-release form of buprenorphine. If your loved one wants to avoid daily dosing during reentry, knowing the facility offers multiple medication options can make a real difference.

At Camden County Jail, people can start MOUD at booking - with one exception: methadone. So if someone wants treatment right away, initiation is possible for other MOUD medications from day one. This is worth knowing if you're trying to support someone early in their stay. The door to starting treatment opens at booking (again, except for methadone), making those first days and weeks a critical time to push for a treatment plan.

Starting MOUD is only part of the picture. Camden County DOC also has MOUD Navigators who help people connect with pharmacies and treatment providers after release. This handoff matters. The days right after release are when people are most likely to fall through the cracks - appointments don't get scheduled, prescriptions go unfilled, transportation falls apart. Navigators help bridge that gap so your loved one isn't left figuring it out alone.

• ✓ Narcan
• ✓ Fentanyl test strips
• ✓ Hygiene items
• ✓ Clothing items

Volunteers of America (VOA) – Safe Return is a local resource families often ask about. Safe Return tackles multiple pressure points at once, so someone isn't trying to solve housing, work, and treatment separately. Their services include housing assistance, employment services, legal assistance and advocacy, benefits assessment and reinstatement, and linkage to substance abuse and mental health treatment. They also help with state identification and driver's license needs - which can be make-or-break for getting a job or signing a lease.

The contact number for VOA – Safe Return in Camden County is (856) 671-6101. It's a 24-hour line, with program hours from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you're coordinating from the outside, call early - before release day. You'll have more time to ask what documents or details they need to connect your loved one to services.

Camden County also has the NuEntry Opportunity Specialists (NOS) Credible Messenger team. Their role is straightforward: people returning from incarceration get guidance, support, and help navigating resources across the county. Reentry isn't just paperwork and appointments. The NOS team also helps with problem-solving, conflict, and the stress that comes with adjusting to life back home. If your loved one responds better to peer-based support, NOS may be a strong fit.

ReNew Camden is worth knowing about if your loved one will be under federal supervision. It's a federal reentry court program focused on people who face challenges to their success while supervised. Participants meet twice a month with a United States Probation Officer, a United States District Court Judge, a United States Magistrate Judge, and partner agencies. The program connects people with supervision supports plus services like treatment, education, and job skills training - help that can keep someone moving forward instead of cycling back into the system.

1. Email the Reentry Coordinator early - Camden County DOC’s Reentry Coordinator is Victoria Nicolosi (victoria.nicolosi@camdendoc.com). Ask what reentry supports are available for your loved one and what the next steps are to connect them before release.
2. Ask to loop in the MOUD Navigators - Camden County DOC uses MOUD Navigators to help connect people to pharmacies and treatment providers after release. If your loved one is on MOUD (or wants to be), ask how you can make sure a navigator is involved in the release plan.
3. Confirm the “day of release” plan - Get clarity on what provider or pharmacy connection is being set up, and what your loved one should do immediately after release to stay connected to care.
4. Ask about harm-reduction supplies at release - People on MOUD are provided release backpacks that include Narcan, fentanyl test strips, hygiene items, and clothing items. Knowing this ahead of time helps you plan what else (if anything) your loved one will need that first day home.