Maximum security (men) · State Prison · NJDOC

New Jersey State Prison

Trenton, Mercer County, New Jersey

Visiting schedules change without notice. Always call before traveling.

Call Visiting Office: (609) 292-9700 ext. 4555 Info last verified: June 2026

New Jersey's maximum-security prison for men, in downtown Trenton — the state's only fully maximum-security institution and its oldest, with both contact and window visits and unusually good transit access.

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

New Jersey State Prison, in downtown Trenton, is the state’s maximum-security prison for men — its only fully maximum-security institution, holding the highest-security male population — and one of the oldest continuously operating prisons in the country, dating to 1836. It held New Jersey’s death row and execution chamber until the state abolished the death penalty in 2007; there is no death row now.

What Makes New Jersey State Prison Different

It is the state’s only fully maximum-security prison, holding men at the highest custody level.
It is among the oldest prisons in the United States, in continuous operation since 1836.
Transit access is unusually good for a state prison. It is in the state capital, near the Trenton Transit Center (Amtrak, NJ Transit, SEPTA, and the River Line), and a River Line light-rail stop, Cass Street, is on the prison’s own street.

Visiting

The statewide NJDOC rules above — the approved visitor list, the dress code, ID, and search rules — apply at New Jersey State Prison. The facility’s own schedule, which depends on a person’s housing:

The full approval process is in Visiting in New Jersey.

Getting There and Parking

The prison is on Cass Street in downtown Trenton, the state capital.

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

Nearby Services

Downtown Trenton has gas, food, and lodging, with more along the U.S. 1 corridor. The nearest 24/7 emergency room is Capital Health Regional Medical Center at 750 Brunswick Avenue in Trenton.

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 (1400), 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 600 Cass Street, Trenton, NJ 08608. 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.