Maximum security, with a minimum-security camp (men) · State Prison · NJDOC

East Jersey State Prison

Rahway, Middlesex County, New Jersey

Visiting schedules change without notice. Always call before traveling.

Call Visiting Office: (732) 499-5010 ext. 2908 Info last verified: June 2026

A maximum-security men's prison near Rahway in central New Jersey — formerly Rahway State Prison, with a landmark domed building — plus a minimum-security camp, and unusually good transit access for a state prison.

Statewide rules that apply at every New Jersey state prison

These rules are set by NJDOC and apply at every unit. The full list — including all permitted and prohibited items and the approval process — is in Visiting in New Jersey.

Dress code

Tops must cover the shoulders and midriff — no tank, tube, halter, or low-cut tops, and nothing transparent, fishnet, skin-tight, or hooded.
Bottoms must cover from the waist to the knee — shorts must be Bermuda-style ending at the knee, and skirts and dresses must reach the knee when seated; no cargo-style pants, and nothing low-rise that exposes the midriff or buttocks.
Nothing resembling what incarcerated people, officers, or other workers wear — no military or uniform-style clothing, and nothing in khaki, orange, gray, or camouflage.
No hats or headgear (except religious or medical), no flip-flops, backless sandals, wheeled shoes, or steel-toed boots, and nothing with offensive or illegal-activity messages.

ID: Every adult visitor needs a photo ID — a driver's license, state non-driver ID, passport, photo Medicaid card, or employer photo ID (a Social Security card is not accepted). Every visitor, adult or child, must be on the incarcerated person's approved list.
What to bring: Almost nothing comes into the visit room — no phones, money (cash or coin), purses, photos, or food. A clear plastic or zip-lock bag may hold authorized items, and lockers are provided; life-sustaining medication such as an inhaler is handed to the visit supervisor.
Scheduling: The incarcerated person designates the visitors, and everyone must be on the approved list (a criminal record must be disclosed but is not an automatic bar). Visits are by appointment only — scheduled with the facility at least 48 hours ahead — and the number of visitors allowed at once varies by facility (commonly up to four adults plus children, sometimes fewer).

Full statewide rules: Visiting in New Jersey

Overview

East Jersey State Prison is a maximum-security prison for men near Rahway, in the Avenel section of Woodbridge Township. It was long known as Rahway State Prison (renamed in 1988) and opened in 1901; its large domed building is a local landmark, visible from Route 1-9 and the nearby rail line. It also operates a minimum-security satellite camp.

What Makes East Jersey Different

It is a maximum-security men’s prison with a separate minimum-security camp on the grounds.
The historic Rahway name and the dome. Many families and older records still refer to it as Rahway State Prison.
Transit access is unusually good for a state prison. NJ Transit’s Rahway and Avenel stations are both within about a mile, in a densely served part of central New Jersey.

Visiting

The statewide NJDOC rules above — the approved visitor list, the dress code, ID, and search rules — apply at East Jersey. The facility’s own arrangements:

The full approval process is in Visiting in New Jersey.

Getting There and Parking

The prison is on Woodbridge Road off U.S. Route 1-9, near Rahway.

Distances are approximate, based on map routing. Visitor parking is on site.

Nearby Services

The Rahway and Woodbridge area, along the Route 1 corridor, has gas, food, and lodging. The nearest 24/7 emergency room is RWJ University Hospital Rahway at 865 Stone Street in Rahway.

Mail

Personal letters do not go to the prison — they go to the state’s off-site scanning center, addressed with the person’s name, SBI number, and the facility’s code (1401), to P.O. Box 96777, Las Vegas, NV 89193 (confirm the code and current format on NJDOC’s Staying Connected page). Legal mail and publications go directly to the facility at 1100 Woodbridge Road, Rahway, NJ 07065. Full rules are in Mail & Packages.

Learn More

For detailed information about visiting and communicating with someone in a New Jersey state prison:

Visiting in New Jersey — the approved list, dress code, and search rules
Mail & Packages — the scanning center, the SBI number, and what goes to the facility
Phone & Video Calls — the ViaPath system, free options, and tablets
Sending Money — depositing through ViaPath
Medical & Mental Health — health care, the co-pay, and the Corrections Ombudsperson
Transfers & Finding Someone — the one-year line, county jails, and the locator

Sources

This page is compiled from the following publicly available sources. Policies change without notice — confirm current details with the facility before relying on them.