How to Schedule a Legal Video Visit at Bayside State Prison
Legal video visits at Bayside State Prison go through New Jersey DOC's statewide videoconferencing system. Here's how to request a time slot, what information goes on the form, and how to make sure your conference actually happens when you need it.
New Jersey DOC uses videoconferencing for criminal justice proceedings and interviews that would otherwise require transporting an incarcerated person. Think preliminary court activities, parole hearings, and deportation hearings - all handled by video so the inmate stays at the institution while the legal work moves forward.
Everything runs through a statewide NJDOC videoconferencing program. Need program-level help for Bayside? Contact the NJDOC Videoconferencing Program Office at 609-826-5642 or by mail at P.O. Box 863, Trenton, NJ 08625.
Before filling anything out, confirm the inmate's legal name, DOC number, and current location. Call the NJDOC Inmate Locator Service at (609) 292-0328 to get this information - it prevents delays from missing or incorrect inmate numbers.
Tip: Need to double-check Bayside's contact information? Addresses and phone numbers for all NJ prisons are listed on New Jersey's state FAQ online.
Fill Form Fields
- ✓ Inmate Name
- ✓ Inmate #
- ✓ Time Start
- ✓ Approx. Length of Conference
- ✓ Reason Code (use code 25 for Client/Attorney Interview)
- ✓ Contact Person (print name)
- ✓ Contact Person Work Phone
- ✓ Contact Person Cell Phone
- ✓ Contact Person E-Mail
- ✓ Contact Person Fax
The request form asks whether you'll be faxing documents on the day of the videoconference (FAX Yes/FAX No). Every correctional facility has a fax machine as part of the videoconferencing setup for receiving documents during conferences. For program-level fax questions, the NJDOC Videoconferencing Program Office fax number is 609-984-8284.
Fax your request to the institution's videoconferencing coordinator at least 48 hours in advance - that's 2 or more business days before your requested conference. Wait until the last minute and you'll likely miss the scheduling window.
Pick a time within the standard videoconferencing window: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Weekends and holidays aren't available, so plan your date and time accordingly.
Note: The 48-hour notice requirement means 2 or more business days. Since weekends and holidays don't count toward the 8:00 AM–4:00 PM schedule, count your lead time in business days only.
Once the facility receives your fax, they check availability and add the appointment to the institution's master schedule. Hit a snag? The NJDOC Videoconferencing Program Office can help at 609-826-5642.
After your request is scheduled, the facility notifies you. Remember: the requesting agency initiates the videoconference, not the prison. Try to schedule a start time at least one hour before closing whenever possible.
On conference day, the institution's videoconferencing post officer gets the correct inmate to the waiting area at least ten minutes before the scheduled start. This keeps things moving and cuts down on last-minute delays.
Be ready to initiate the call at your scheduled time - the participating agency starts all videoconferences. Stick to NJDOC's operating window (8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, excluding weekends and holidays) and avoid late-day starts when you can.
Can't find the right coordinator contact for Bayside, or need to escalate a scheduling question? Reach the NJDOC Videoconferencing Program Office at 609-826-5642 (phone), 609-984-8284 (fax), or P.O. Box 863, Trenton, NJ 08625 (mail).
Uncertain about the inmate's details? Call the NJDOC Inmate Locator Service at (609) 292-0328 to confirm the DOC number and current location before resubmitting. Need to verify Bayside's address or phone number? New Jersey's FAQ lists contact information for all state prisons online.
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