Before You Go: Arrival rules and check‑in at Ocean County Jail

Ocean County Jail only lets visitors enter 15 minutes before the scheduled visit start time. Show up earlier than that and you won't be allowed inside, even if you're already on the schedule.

Sign in and ID

• ✓ Full name
• ✓ Address
• ✓ Inmate’s name
• ✓ Your relationship to the inmate

• ✓ Valid driver’s license from a U.S. state
• ✓ Valid federal, state, or county picture ID with your address
• ✓ Valid college picture ID (bring a recent bill with your address)
• ✓ Valid welfare card (bring a recent bill with your address)
• ✓ Valid passport
• ✓ Birth certificate (bring a recent bill with your address)

You'll need to pre-register and pre-schedule your visit before you can go. Ocean County Jail handles this through the visiting kiosk or the video visitation website, and the rules apply to visitors of all ages, including children. If it's your first time, build in extra lead time: there's a 48-hour processing period between registration and scheduling your first visit.

1. Clear the metal detector - You must pass through screening before you can enter the visiting area.
2. Complete the thermal scanner check - This is part of the required entry process.
3. Be prepared to be searched - Visitors are subject to search before entering the visiting area/lobby.

• ✓ Cell phones (including camera phones)
• ✓ Cameras
• ✓ Pagers
• ✓ Laptop computers
• ✓ iPods or other MP3 devices
• ✓ Personal flash drives
• ✓ Any other personal electronic device

Once you're in the lobby, stay behind the boundaries staff have set up. The jail also requires visitors not to congregate in the courthouse/building courtyard area before or after assigned visitation times and to maintain social distancing at all times.

Arrive more than 15 minutes before your scheduled start time and you won't be let in. That said, give yourself enough cushion to check in and clear screening without rushing. Everyone must pass through a metal detector and thermal scanner, and visitors are subject to search before entering the visiting area. If you can't complete screening, you can be denied entry.