Ocean County Jail, NJ

To visit someone at Ocean County Jail, you must preregister and be on the inmate's approved visitor list. First-time preregistration takes 48 hours to process before you can schedule anything. Book visits through the VVSC scheduling site or the GTL VisMobile app at least one day (and no more than seven days) in advance. Cancellations must be made at least 24 hours before your appointment. Video visitation runs weekdays 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM and weekends 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Eligible inmates get two free 15-minute video visits per week, plus a paid 16-minute option for $4. Arrive no earlier than 15 minutes before your start time. You'll sign in, show an approved photo ID, and clear metal and thermal screening. Expect visits to be searched, recorded, and monitored. Contact visits require separate approval and come with strict rules.

Ocean County Jail handles phone calls, video visits, and electronic messaging through third-party vendors. What's available depends on custody status and vendor services. For desktop video visits, download GTL VisBridge and run the Internet Visit Tester at least 10 minutes before your scheduled start time to verify your camera and audio work. You'll also need to open and activate an account with the approved vendor to receive calls or video visits and to add funds for prepaid services. A few privacy details worth knowing: vendor materials state that voice and image data are recorded and stored, and using the service counts as consent. If you accept a ViaPath/Telmate call, your phone location can be obtained for 60 minutes (unless you decline the call). The vendor also reported an August 2020 data breach that exposed users' personal information.

The most important thing to know about adding money to someone's account at Ocean County Jail: the jail will not accept money dropped off or mailed in. Money orders and checks are also rejected, and you should never send cash through the U.S. Mail. Before sending funds, confirm the jail's approved deposit methods and current vendor procedures. Many facilities offer online deposits, phone deposits, or an on-site kiosk, though posting times and service fees vary by option. If you're instructed to mail a payment somewhere else, include any required deposit form along with the person's full name and ID number. Don't add extra items to the envelope.