New Jersey · commissary guide
New Jersey commissary: how to send money and find a facility
Commissary is the store inside a jail or prison where your loved one buys food, hygiene items and stamps with money in their account. Here is how it works in New Jersey, with official links and 37 facilities in our directory.
Adding money in New Jersey state prisons
New Jersey Department of Corrections runs the state prison system. On its official pages, it lists these ways for families to add money to an account:
- Online by credit/debit card through ConnectNetwork (ViaPath)
- ViaPath mobile app or by phone
- Money order by mail with the ViaPath trust account deposit slip
Deposit companies named by the agency: ViaPath Technologies (ConnectNetwork).
Official page on sending money
Commissary rules
- Trust account funds can be used for commissary, phone calls and other approved uses
County and city jails in New Jersey
Each county jail chooses its own commissary and deposit company, so the options can differ from the state prisons. Look for the sheriff's office website, or call the jail before you send money. Our guide on sending money to someone in jail covers the common options.
Federal prisons in New Jersey
3 federal facilities are in New Jersey. Federal prisons follow Bureau of Prisons rules, not state rules. See our federal prison commissary guide.
Finding your loved one
Use the official New Jersey inmate locator for state prisons. For a county jail, check that county sheriff's inmate roster.
Questions families ask
How many prisons and jails are in New Jersey?
Our directory lists 37 adult facilities in New Jersey, including 14 prisons and 18 county or city jails. It is built from public government datasets, so check with the facility for the latest details.
How do I put money on someone's commissary in a New Jersey state prison?
New Jersey Department of Corrections lists these options: Online by credit/debit card through ConnectNetwork (ViaPath); ViaPath mobile app or by phone; Money order by mail with the ViaPath trust account deposit slip. You will need the person's ID number and facility. Fees and rules can change, so confirm on the official page first.
How do I find someone in a New Jersey prison?
Use the New Jersey Department of Corrections official inmate locator at https://www-doc.state.nj.us/DOC_Inmate/inmatefinder?i=I. County jails keep their own rosters, usually on the sheriff's office website.
Do county jails in New Jersey use the same deposit system as state prisons?
Not always. Each county jail picks its own commissary and deposit vendor, so check the sheriff's office website or call the jail before you send money.
Sources
- https://nj.gov/corrections/pages/viapath.html
- https://www-doc.state.nj.us/DOC_Inmate/inmatefinder?i=I
Official pages checked 2026-11-03. Rules change, so confirm with the facility before sending money.