Penmate Inmate Support Guides
Phone & Messaging

Setting Up a Video Conference with Your Attorney at Northern State Prison: The 48-Hour Fax Rule

Scheduling a video teleconference (VTC) attorney visit at Northern State Prison comes down to one rule: your request must be faxed at least 48 hours before your requested date, and weekends and holidays don't count toward that window.

• 3 min read Verified from official sources

To set up a video conference with your attorney at Northern State Prison, fax your request to the facility's coordinator at least 48 hours before your requested date. That 48-hour clock skips weekends and holidays entirely. So a request that looks like "two days out" on the calendar can still miss the deadline if Saturday, Sunday, or a holiday falls in between.

The "48-hour" requirement is really a business-days rule. Your fax needs to arrive at least 48 hours (two or more business days) before your requested date. Weekends and holidays don't count. Think in workdays, not calendar dates. Fax on Monday for a Wednesday conference? That's two business days of lead time, and you're good. Fax on Friday for Monday? That won't work. Saturday and Sunday don't count toward the 48 hours.

Tip: Build in extra time. Same-day or next-day VTCs aren't possible under this rule, so plan for at least two full business days.

Your fax needs to go directly to the facility's videoconferencing coordinator (or their designee). Sending it to the right person keeps your request moving through scheduling, especially when you're close to the 48-hour cutoff.

For Northern State Prison, the video teleconference coordinators are Kelly Greer (Kelly.Greer@doc.nj.gov, 609-292-9700 x4218) and Soraya Arce (Soraya.Arce@doc.nj.gov, 973-465-0068 x4338). If you're unsure who should receive your fax, start with these contacts.

Video teleconferences run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. If you send a request outside that window, expect it to sit until the next business day. That delay can push you past the 48-hour requirement.

Planning note: A fax sent late Friday faces two non-counting days immediately. Since weekends don't count toward the 48 hours, your earliest workable date is usually later than you'd expect.

Need a session urgently? The basics still apply: fax your request to the facility's videoconferencing coordinator (or designee), and make sure the timing satisfies the 48-hour rule (excluding weekends and holidays). Since operations run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, your fastest realistic option is usually the earliest weekday slot that's at least two business days out.

  1. Contact the videoconferencing coordinator (or designee) - Use the listed Northern State Prison VTC contacts to identify who should receive the faxed request.
  2. Ask for the earliest compliant date and time - Work within 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday, and make sure the requested day is at least 48 hours away (excluding weekends and holidays).
  3. Fax the request and confirm it was received - Send the fax to the coordinator, then follow up using the coordinator contact information so your request does not get missed close to the deadline.

Checklist

  • ✓ Fax the request to the correctional facility’s videoconferencing coordinator or designee
  • ✓ Send the fax at least 48 hours before the requested day, not counting weekends and holidays
  • ✓ Keep your requested day and time realistic for the operational window (8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday)
  • ✓ Inmate name
  • ✓ Inmate number
  • ✓ Requested start time
  • ✓ Approximate length of conference
  • ✓ Reason for the conference (reason code, if used on the form)
  • ✓ Indicate whether you will be faxing documents to the inmate on the day of the videoconference (FAX Yes/No)
  • ✓ Contact person name (printed)
  • ✓ Contact person work phone
  • ✓ Contact person cell phone
  • ✓ Contact person email
  • ✓ Contact person fax number
  • ✓ Agency county/region (if applicable)
  • ✓ Today’s date and signature
  • ✓ Your fax confirmation sheet (or other proof of transmission)

Reminder: Fax problems happen. After sending your request, call or email the coordinator to confirm it was received and is being processed.

Find an Inmate at Northern State Prison, NJ

Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.

Exact spelling helps find results faster

Free to search · Used by families nationwide
Woman using phone to connect with loved one

More from Northern State Prison, NJ

Before Your Attorney's First Video Visit: What the Inmate Needs to Know at Northern State Prison

Your first attorney video visit runs smoother when you know what happens before the call starts and how paperwork gets handled during the session. Here's what to expect at Northern State Prison.

Phone & Messaging

How to Contact an Inmate at Northern State Prison, NJ (NJ)

Looking to set up a video conference with someone at Northern State Prison? Your best starting point is the NJDOC Videoconferencing Program Office.

How to Schedule an Attorney Visit at Northern State Prison (24-hour notice)

Northern State Prison requires advance notice for in-person attorney visits. Here's the 24-hour rule, what to include in your request, and who to contact so nothing gets delayed.