How Attorneys Should Submit Electronic Discovery to Bergen County Jail (USB checklist)
Submitting electronic discovery to Bergen County Jail? You'll need two things: a USB drive and a completed manifest. The jail uses the manifest to identify your client, confirm who submitted the material, and verify exactly what's on the drive.
Bergen County Jail requires electronic discovery on a USB drive with a completed manifest. Don't treat the manifest as an optional cover sheet - it's part of the package. Without it, expect delays or rejection. Staff use the manifest to match the USB to the correct inmate and confirm what files are included before anything reaches your client.
- ✓ Inmate’s name and current booking number
- ✓ Attorney’s name, address, and contact number
- ✓ A detailed listing of every file contained on the USB drive
- ✓ Instructions for the inmate on how to operate any proprietary players and/or how to access the files
Stick to accepted file formats: PDF, CSV, MP3, and MP4. If you're exporting from another system, convert before you submit. Unlisted formats can create access problems for your client inside the facility.
Note: Files must open and play using VLC or Windows Media Player. If your media requires a different program, include clear access instructions - or better yet, convert to a compatible format.
Scrub the USB before you hand it over. Bergen County Jail requires that all personal content unrelated to the case be removed, including material from cellphone extractions. Don't submit a full dump with unrelated photos, messages, or personal data mixed in - curate what you're providing.
- ✓ Pornography
- ✓ Movies
- ✓ Music
If your submission doesn't meet requirements - missing manifest, wrong formats, or prohibited material - the discovery gets returned. Double-check that the manifest is complete and the drive contents match your file list exactly.
- Decide whether you can meet the USB requirements - if you can’t (format, content, or access constraints), don’t force a noncompliant submission.
- Request an in-person visit with your client - this is the alternative the jail provides when you’re unable to meet the electronic discovery requirements.
- Attend the visit with your client - use the in-person meeting to review the material directly with them.
If your client is no longer at Bergen County Jail, any discovery you submitted will be returned to you. Plan ahead if timing is tight - especially if you need your client to review media before a specific court date.
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