Essex County Inmate Search

Thank you for visiting. We want to help you with your Essex County NJ Inmate Search. Our goal is to give you the facts you need. We will cover how to find someone held in Essex County.

If you need to start an Essex County NJ Inmate Search right now, visit https://newjerseyinmaterecords.com/essex-county-inmate-search/. This resource can help you look for inmate information quickly. It is a direct way to begin your search if you do not want to wait. Check this site for your Essex County NJ Inmate Search needs right away. It may have the details you seek right now.

Locating an Inmate in Essex County

Contacting the Facility Directly

The best way to find someone may be to call. Call the Essex County Correctional Facility. Their phone number is 973-274-7500. Ask them if the person is held there. Be ready to give the person's full name. You might need their date of birth too. This is often the most direct check. Keep in mind the Essex County Sheriff's Office is separate. It does not run the jail. The Essex County Department of Corrections runs the jail. Call the jail number for inmate questions. Do not call the Sheriff for this info. Calling gives you the most current status. Online info might lag sometimes. Prepare for possible hold times when you call. They handle many calls each day. Have the person's details ready to speed things up.

The Essex County Correctional Facility is large. It holds many adult men. Some are waiting for trial. Others are serving short terms. Calling is the surest way to check for a specific person. The staff can tell you if they are there. They can sometimes give booking status. Note down who you speak with. Note the date and time too. This helps if you need to call back. Be polite and clear with your request. This helps the staff help you faster. The main phone line is the best contact point.

Essex County Correctional Facility Location

The jail has a specific address. It is in Newark, New Jersey.

• Facility Name: Essex County Correctional Facility

• Address: 354 Doremus Avenue, Newark, NJ 07105 Use this address for mail. You can also use it for navigation if visiting. The zip code is 07105. The main phone is 973-274-7500. The fax line is 973-274-6986. This jail is managed by the county government. It is not a state prison. It holds inmates mostly facing county charges. Or they serve sentences under county rules.

Official Online Search Tools

New Jersey Department of Corrections (NJDOC) Search

The state offers an online tool. It is for inmates in state prisons. Sometimes county inmates transfer to state custody. You can check the NJDOC Offender Search Engine. Find it on the NJ Department of Corrections website. The direct link is often found under 'Offender Information'. Use the search tool here: https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www20.state.nj.us/DOC_Inmate/inmatefinder%3Fi%3DI. You can search by name or State Bureau of Identification (SBI) number. You can also use age, race, or sex. The tool lists current inmates. It also lists some released within the past year. Remember this data may not be real time. Call the specific facility for the latest info. This tool covers state facilities mainly. It might not show all county jail inmates. But it is worth checking.

The NJDOC website is run by the state. Its purpose is public safety and information. The data comes from official corrections records. Use the inmate's full legal name for best results. Try variations if the first search fails. The SBI number gives the most exact match. This number is unique to each person in the system. Note that certain inmate records may be restricted. This could be for safety or legal reasons. The search has limits. Read the disclaimer on the state site. It explains data accuracy and limits. This tool is a good starting point. It is free to use. It is available to the public online any time.

Federal Inmate Locator

Some people are held in federal prisons. This is different from state or county jails. Use the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Inmate Locator. Find it here: https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/. This tool searches federal facilities nationwide. It will not show inmates in Essex County Jail. Unless they face federal charges and are held there temporarily. Or if they transferred to federal custody. You can search by BOP register number. Or use FBI, DCDC, or INS number. You can also search by name. You need the first and last name. Race, age, and sex help narrow results. This search is only for federal system inmates.

Communicating with Essex County Inmates

Sending Mail

You can send letters to inmates. Address mail carefully. Use this format: Inmate's Full Name, SBI Number (if known) Essex County Correctional Facility 354 Doremus Avenue Newark, NJ 07105

There is no limit on letter count. Inmates can send and get many letters. Letters can be in any language. The content is not restricted usually. But mail cannot contain threats. It cannot promote illegal acts. All incoming mail is opened. Staff check for money or contraband. They do not read letters typically. Unless they suspect a security risk. Do not send cash or checks in the mail. Use approved methods for sending funds.

You can send soft cover books. Also magazines or newspapers. These must come directly from the publisher. Or they must ship from a known bookstore like Amazon or Barnes & Noble. Do not send books from home. They will likely be rejected. This rule prevents contraband entry. Make sure the inmate's name is clear on the package. Hard cover books are usually not allowed. Check specific rules before sending anything. Rules can change. Call the jail if unsure about an item. Prohibited items include stamps, stickers, or extra paper. Send only the letter itself. Photos may be allowed but check rules first. Often Polaroids are banned. Standard photos might be okay. Limits on size or number may apply.

Visitation Information

Visiting an inmate requires rules. Each jail has its own process. Contact the Essex County Correctional Facility for rules. Call 973-274-7500. Ask about visitor approval. You may need to fill out a form. You might need a background check. Ask about visiting hours. Hours often depend on the inmate's housing unit. Learn the dress code for visitors. Strict dress codes are common. Plan your visit in advance. Know the rules for bringing items. Usually, you can only bring keys and ID. No cell phones or bags are allowed in visit areas. Visits might be non-contact. This means talking through glass. Or they might be contact visits. This depends on the inmate status and facility rules. Always confirm the schedule before going. Visits can be cancelled without notice.

Inmate Accounts and Commissary

Inmates need money for things. They buy items from the commissary. This includes snacks, hygiene items, or writing paper. Family and friends can send money. The jail uses specific ways to receive funds. Do not mail cash or checks. Ask the jail about approved methods. They might use a kiosk in the lobby. Or an online service provider. Or money orders mailed to a special address. Call 973-274-7500. Ask for inmate accounts or commissary information. Find out the exact process. There might be limits on amounts sent. Fees may apply for online or phone deposits. Funds go into the inmate's account. The inmate uses this account to buy items.

Accessing Official Records

Open Public Records Act (OPRA) Requests

You can request public records. New Jersey has the Open Public Records Act (OPRA). This law gives access to government records. This includes some correctional records. Requests must be in writing. Use the official Essex County OPRA request form. Find it on the Essex County website. Look under government or clerk sections. The form link is often here: https://essexcountynj.org/opra-page/. Fill out the form fully. Sign and date it. Submit it to the correct records custodian. You can mail it or deliver it in person. Some allow email submission. Check the county site for details.

There are fees for copies. Standard pages have set costs. Large requests might have extra fees. These cover staff time. You pay fees before getting records. Cash, certified check, or money order work. Payable to "County of Essex". The county has seven business days to respond. They will grant access, deny it, or ask for more time. Denials must state the reason. Some records are exempt from OPRA. These include security plans or victim information. If you were convicted of a crime, you cannot get victim info. OPRA helps keep government open. Use it for official documents you need. The law details are in N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq. You can find the full law text online. The Government Records Council helps with OPRA issues. Their site has more resources.

Victim Notification System (VINE)

Victims of crime have rights. One right is notification. The VINE system helps with this. VINE stands for Victim Information and Notification Everyday. It tracks inmate custody status. It notifies registered users of changes. Changes include release, transfer, or escape. Register for NJ VINE online. Or call the toll-free number. The website is https://www.vinelink.com/. Select New Jersey. The phone number is 1-877-VINE-4-NJ (1-877-846-3465). You need the inmate's name or number to register. VINE is free and confidential. It provides peace of mind for victims. It operates 24 hours a day. Service is available in multiple languages. Essex County participates in this system. Both county jail and state prison information is often available.

Relevant Departments and Contacts

Essex County Department of Corrections

This department runs the county jail.

• Main Facility: Essex County Correctional Facility

• Address: 354 Doremus Avenue, Newark, NJ 07105

• Phone: 973-274-7500

• Fax: 973-274-6986 Contact this department for all jail specific info. This includes inmate status, mail, visits, and money.

Essex County Sheriff's Office

The Sheriff's Office is separate from the jail. They handle law enforcement duties. They provide court security. They serve legal papers.

• Website: https://www.essexsheriff.com/

• Non-Emergency Phone: 973-621-4111

• Emergency: 911 Do not call the Sheriff for inmate lookups at the county jail. Their FAQ page confirms this. Call the Correctional Facility directly.

New Jersey Department of Corrections (NJDOC)

NJDOC runs the state prison system. Some county inmates might transfer to state facilities.

• Website: https://www.nj.gov/corrections/

• Main Office Address: Whittlesey Road, P.O. Box 863, Trenton, NJ 08625

• Main Phone: (609) 292-4036 Use their website for the state inmate locator. This tool searches state prisons. Contact NJDOC for info on state prisoners. Each state prison has its own contact info too. Find details on the NJDOC website under facilities.