Essex County Inmate Search
An Essex County inmate search provides information about individuals incarcerated in correctional facilities within the county. Depending on the correctional facility, inmate records may be retrieved from databases maintained by the Essex County of Corrections or the New Jersey Department of Corrections (NJDOC), as inmate information is considered part of Essex County Public Records. County residents may conduct an inmate search to learn more about individuals arrested or convicted within the county's jurisdiction. These searches may also be relevant when seeking details of the offender's charges, sentences, and fines, as well as their release date and related inmate data.
Essex County Crime and Incarceration Statistics
Home to a population of approximately 800,000, Essex County has an offense rate of 1,724.6 per 100,000, according to UCR data published by the New Jersey State Police. In 2020, the county recorded 13,802 offenses, 14% of which were cleared. The county also made 2762 arrests. Newark PD reported the most with 1,103 arrests, followed by East Orange PD and Irvington PD with 297 and 222 arrests, respectively. In contrast, North Caldwell PD and Essex County College PD reported no arrests.
Essex County Prison System
The Essex County prison system comprises a correctional facility, multiple city jails, and youth detention centers. Unlike other New Jersey Counties, the Essex County of Corrections operates independently of the County Sheriff's Office. The Essex County Correctional Facility is one of the largest county jails in New Jersey. With a capacity of over 2,100, it houses sentenced offenders and detainees awaiting trial.
Essex County's Prison System also includes Northern State Prison, a state-run facility operated by the New Jersey Department of Corrections. Located at 168 Frontage Road Northern, it has a capacity of up to 2600 inmates. Other facilities in the county include:
- Bloomfield City Jail
- East Orange City Jail
- Essex County Correctional Facility
- Essex County Jail
- Essex County Youth Detention Center
- Essex County-Delaney Hall Detention Facility
- 451 Doremus Avenue,
- Newark City Jail
- Newark City Juvenile Jail
- Northern State Prison
- West Orange City Jail
How to Find an Inmate in Essex County
Residents can obtain information on residents incarcerated in Essex County by contacting the correctional facility at (973) 274-7500. Requesters may also be able to get inmate records by submitting a request in person at:
Department of Corrections
354 Doremus Avenue,
Newark, NJ 07105
Information on inmates held by the New Jersey Department of Correction can be found by sending requests to:
State of New Jersey
Department of Corrections
P.O. Box 863
ATTN: Correspondence Unit
Trenton, NJ 08625
How Does an Essex County Inmate Search Work?
Inmate records fall under the umbrella of open records. This means, per the New Jersey Open Public Records Act (OPRA), anyone may obtain inmate information by submitting a request to the public agency in charge of the records, such as the Department of Correction. Information found during an inmate search includes some or all of the following data:
- Inmate's name
- Any aliases
- Mugshot
- Physical descriptors (sex, hair color, hair length, eye color, complexion, weight)
- Date of birth
- Booking ID
- Permanent ID number
- Citizenship
- Marital status
- Ethnicity
- Custody location
- Offense date
- Sentence date
- Maximum term
- Mandatory minimum term
- Commitment date
- Projected release date
- Bond information
- Details of charge
Where to Find an Essex County Inmate Locator
Residents can search for Essex County inmates using different locators, depending on whether the offender is held in facilities managed by the state, county, or federal government.
For country-run facilities, Essex County provides public access to inmate records via an online inmate lookup tool. To use the tool, inquirers must enter the inmate's first and last name. Alternatively, searches can be done using a known booking number, state ID, or any other unique identifier the database accepts. Searches can be filtered to reveal only inmates currently in custody or a list of all inmates, including those already released.
The New Jersey Department of Correction provides an online Offender Search Web platform to find inmates held by the state. However, information on the database is largely restricted to only inmates currently in custody. Records of previously held inmates are removed a year after the offenders serve their maximum sentence date or their mandatory parole supervision date (MPS).
Searches on the offender search form can be filtered to reveal inmates using a known SBI number or a first or last name. Inquiries can also be made using an alias.
In addition to government-run locators, inquirers may be able to find inmates using search tools offered by third-party services. These search tools work similarly to government inmate lookup sites. Users must provide information to facilitate the search, such as the offender's name or booking number. Inquiries may also require the payment of a fee.
How to Send Money to an Essex County Inmate
The Essex County Correctional Facility provides multiple options for sending money to an Essex County inmate. For instance, funds can be transferred to an inmate's commissary account using the 24-hour online OffenderConnect service.
Residents can also send money to an inmate by making in-person payments at any visitors' lobby kiosks. Acceptable payment options include credit cards, debit cards, and cash. The facility receives in-person requests throughout the work week between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Alternatively, inmates may receive funds by mail, using postal money orders, certified checks, cashier checks, or bank money orders.
Payments sent via mail must be appropriately addressed to the inmate using the format:
Essex County Correctional Facility
Inmate Name and Booking Number or Jail ID Number
354 Doremus Avenue
Newark, NJ 07105
How to Visit an Essex County Inmate
Residents who wish to visit an Essex County Inmate must first identify the building where the offender is housed. Although visitation occurs from Wednesday through Sunday, the Essex County Department of Corrections has a specific schedule for different buildings. It also provides window and non-contact visits at the Essex County Correctional facility.
While at the facility, adult guests must present valid government-issued photo identification such as a driver's license or US passport. For minors under 18 years of age, a birth certificate is required.
Visitors arriving at the facility are subject to searches before entry. Visits are also issued on a first-come-first-served basis. As part of the rules of entry, visitors must follow the dress regulations of the facility, which include avoiding any see-through dressing or any outfits that expose the wearer's chest, back, stomach, or underarms. Visitors who fail to meet the dress regulations may have their visit terminated.
How to Send Jail Mail in Essex County
Inmates at the Essex County Correctional Facility may send or receive jail mail. Although the correctional facility places no restrictions on the number of letters an inmate receives or the letter's length, language, or context, it prohibits sending or receiving mail containing contraband. If sent directly from a reputable bookstore or publisher, Essex County inmates can receive magazines, soft-covered books, newspapers, or other printed material.
When mailing inmates, letters should be addressed with the inmate's serial number and name, using the format:
Essex County Correctional Facility
Inmate Name and Serial Number
354 Doremus Avenue
Newark, NJ 07105
The correctional facility examines all incoming mail and screens for money orders, cash, checks, or anything considered threatening or contraband.
Essex County Jails and Prisons
The following are the names, addresses, and contact information of jail facilities, prisons, and detention centers in Essex County:
Bloomfield City Jail
1 Municipal Plaza,
Bloomfield, NJ
East Orange City Jail
15 South Munn Avenue,
East Orange, NJ
Essex County Correctional Facility
354 Doremus Avenue,
Newark, NJ
Essex County Correctional Facility
356 Doremus Avenue,
Newark, NJ
Essex County Jail
60 Nelson Place,
Newark, NJ
Essex County Jail Annex
45 Elm Road,
Caldwell, NJ
Essex County Youth Detention Center
80 Duryea Street,
Newark, NJ
Essex County-Delaney Hall Detention Facility
451 Doremus Avenue,
Newark, NJ
Newark City Jail
31 Green Street,
Newark, NJ
Newark City Juvenile Jail
43 Dickerson Street,
Newark, NJ
Northern State Prison
168 Frontage Road,
Newark, NJ
West Orange City Jail
60 Main Street West,
Orange, NJ
