Visiting in New Jersey (NJDOC)

Getting on the Visit List

Visiting starts with the incarcerated person, who designates the people allowed to visit; every visitor — adult or child — must be on the approved list. Approved visitors can include relatives, close friends, and clergy. A person with an adult criminal conviction, or who is on probation or parole, must disclose it but is not automatically excluded — the department weighs the offense against the value of the visit. Two things to know:

• Failing to disclose a record or a parole/probation status leads to a 60-day ban, after which the person must reapply.
• A visitor judged a harmful influence or security threat can be banned for at least a year.

If a proposed visitor is not approved, the incarcerated person is told the reason and may appeal to the facility Administrator.

Minors

A visitor under 18 must be on the approved list and accompanied by an approved adult relative, with the required parental consent. The accompanying adult is responsible for the child during the visit. (Children cannot take part in video visits — see below.)

Scheduling

Visits are by appointment only and must be scheduled with the facility at least 48 hours in advance (some facilities also limit how far ahead you can book). The scheduling line is generally staffed Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Each prison sets its own visiting days and hours — usually weekends plus some weekday options — so check the facility’s schedule. The number of visitors allowed at once varies by facility — commonly up to four adults plus children, though some allow fewer (for example, three adults).

What to Wear

The published visitor dress code, which applies regardless of gender:

• 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 that resembles what incarcerated people, officers, or other workers wear — no military-style or uniform-style clothing, and nothing in khaki, orange, gray, or camouflage.
• No hats or headgear (except religious or medical, which must be searchable), no flip-flops, backless sandals, wheeled shoes, or steel-toed boots, and nothing with offensive, racist, sexual, or illegal-activity messages.

Proper attire is a condition of entry; a visitor who is out of compliance is turned away.

ID, Searches, and What You Can Bring

Every adult presents 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. On entry, visitors, their belongings, and their vehicles are subject to search: a contraband-detection dog, a drug/ION scanner, and a same-gender pat search. A strip search of a visitor requires a court warrant and is rare. If a controlled substance is found, the visitor is permanently banned and may be arrested; refusing a search (where there is no specific suspicion) means no visit and a 60-day ban.

Almost nothing comes into the visit room. Prohibited items include phones and electronics, money (cash or coin), purses and wallets, photographs, candy, and cigarettes. A clear plastic or zip-lock bag may hold authorized items, and lockers are provided for the rest. The exceptions are a locker key and one vehicle key (no remotes) and life-sustaining medication such as an inhaler, which is clearly marked and handed to the visit supervisor.

Contact Visits, Window Visits, and the Primary Caregiver Program

A standard visit is a contact visit: a handshake, embrace, or kiss within appropriate bounds at the beginning and end, and hand-holding during the visit (the time limits on contact do not apply to small children). Some people are limited to non-contact (“window”) visits, conducted through a barrier. New Jersey does not offer conjugal visits.

New Jersey runs a Primary Caregiver Program for incarcerated parents who were a child’s primary caregiver before incarceration: it allows extended visiting — up to six days a week, as much as three hours a day, with unlimited approved children and up to three approved adults (one of whom must accompany the children).

Video Visits

Video visits are offered through the state’s vendor (ViaPath) and are paid, scheduled in advance, and monitored; minors cannot take part, and video is not used for attorney visits. Costs and setup are in Phone & Video Calls.

If a Visitor Is Suspended

Breaking a rule can suspend a visitor — 60 days for refusing a search or failing to disclose a record, at least a year for being judged a security threat, and a permanent ban for bringing in a controlled substance. A suspended visitor reapplies in writing to the facility Administrator.

If Someone Is in a County Jail

These rules apply at NJDOC state prisons. A person awaiting trial or serving a sentence of a year or less is held in a county jail, which sets its own visiting rules under separate county regulations. Confirm where the person is held, and contact that county jail directly for its rules.

Verify Before Acting

For the general, nationwide overview of this topic, see the national guide: Visiting Basics.