The New Jersey Department of Corrections operates eleven state correctional facilities housing approximately 18,000 incarcerated people. Here is a complete guide for families on finding a loved one, setting up communication through the new ViaPath system, and visiting.
Finding Your Loved One: NJDOC Inmate Finder
NJDOC provides a free public inmate search at www-doc.state.nj.us/DOC_Inmate/inmatefinder (also accessible from nj.gov/corrections under "Offender Information"). Search by name or SBI/inmate number. The search returns current facility, sentence information, and projected release date.
Newly sentenced individuals typically go to the Northern State Prison in Newark or the New Jersey State Prison in Trenton for intake assessment and classification before assignment to a permanent facility. Allow one to two weeks for placement data to update.
Phone Calls, Messaging, and Tablets: ViaPath
As of July 31, 2025, all NJDOC communications — phone, electronic messaging, and tablets — run through ViaPath Technologies. JPay is no longer used in New Jersey prisons.
- Create a free account at viapath.com
- Search for the inmate under New Jersey DOC
- Fund your account with a credit or debit card
- Use the platform to receive calls, send electronic messages, and make money deposits
For help, see nj.gov/corrections/pages/viapath.html or contact ViaPath customer support.
Sending Money
All money deposits for NJ DOC inmates now go through ViaPath (not JPay). Former JPay account balances did not transfer automatically — contact JPay directly to request a refund for any remaining balance.
Visiting New Jersey State Prisons
NJDOC requires advance visitor registration. General requirements:
- Submit a visitor application — the inmate initiates this with their housing officer
- Background check required for visitors 18 and older
- Valid government-issued photo ID at every visit
- Dress code: no camouflage, no clothing similar to inmate uniforms, no short skirts or revealing tops
- Visiting hours vary by facility — check nj.gov/corrections or call the facility before traveling
New Jersey's State Correctional Facilities
- New Jersey State Prison — Trenton (maximum security, men; death row)
- Northern State Prison — Newark (medium security, men; reception)
- East Jersey State Prison — Avenel (adult diagnostic and treatment center)
- South Woods State Prison — Bridgeton (medium security, men)
- Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women — Clinton (all security levels, women)
- Plus several halfway houses and community programs
Advocacy and Oversight
- Office of the Corrections Ombudsperson: nj.gov/oag/eps/ombudsperson — independent watchdog accepting complaints from inmates and families
- ACLU of New Jersey: aclu-nj.org — handles conditions of confinement and constitutional violations
- New Jersey Parole Board: Makes release decisions for eligible inmates — state.nj.us/parole
NJDOC headquarters: Whittlesey Road, PO Box 863, Trenton, NJ 08625. Phone: (609) 292-4036. Website: nj.gov/corrections.
Further reading for families
For practical guidance on supporting your loved one, see our step-by-step guides on how to bail someone out of jail, how to write a letter to an inmate, and why inmate phone calls are so expensive — and what families can do to reduce those costs.
Many of these services are run by private companies. See how the main providers work, including fees and how to sign up: Securus, ViaPath (GTL), JPay, Access Corrections, CorrLinks, GettingOut. For every phone, video, money, mail, and care-package company, browse our full inmate service provider directory.