The 90-Day Wait: When Your Loved One Becomes Eligible for Personal Visits at Salem County Jail
Personal visits at Salem County Jail don't start right away. Here's how the 90-day eligibility rule works, what can block a visit even after that mark, and how to plan so you don't miss the first available appointment.
At Salem County Jail, your loved one can only receive a personal visit after they've been incarcerated for 90 days. No exceptions before that mark. Once eligible, the jail allows one personal visit per month - so timing matters, especially if you want to see them as soon as they qualify.
Visits are short and structured. Each session runs about 40 minutes, and only five inmates get scheduled per session. That limited capacity is why planning ahead pays off.
The rule is simple: an inmate becomes eligible for a personal visit only after 90 days in custody. Less than 90 days? No personal visit - even if you're ready to come in, and even if you've visited them at other facilities before.
After day 90, eligibility doesn't mean unlimited visits. Salem County Jail allows one personal visit per month, lasting about 40 minutes. Think of it as monthly chances - if you miss the scheduling window or your loved one becomes temporarily ineligible, you may have to wait until next month.
With only one personal visit allowed per month, tracking your loved one's timeline matters. If their 90th day falls mid-month, you're still working within that month's one-visit limit. Getting organized early keeps you from losing time.
- Find the right Wednesday night - Scheduling is done the Wednesday night before your loved one’s unit’s designated Saturday or Sunday visiting weekend.
- Call during the accepted window - Call 856-769-4300 ext. 7790 between 7:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. on that Wednesday night.
- Don’t call outside the window - Calls outside those hours aren’t accepted, so set a reminder and call during the window.
Note: Only five inmates are scheduled per each 40-minute visit session, so appointment slots can go quickly once the phone lines open.
Even past the 90-day mark, housing status can block that month's visit. If your loved one is on pre-hearing detention when personal visits are being scheduled, they won't be eligible.
Disciplinary findings can also block a visit. If your loved one is found guilty of a Class I or Class II infraction within 30 days before a scheduled personal visit date, they lose eligibility for that month.
The 90-day wait can feel long. But you still have ways to support your loved one during that time. Salem County Jail assigns each inmate one personal account for commissary, phone, and tablet services - so you can help them stay supplied and connected even before in-person visits are allowed.
- ✓ Mail a money order with the inmate’s name on it
- ✓ Use the kiosk in the facility lobby (accepts cash and credit cards)
- ✓ Call Access Corrections at 636-888-7004
- ✓ Create an Access Corrections online account to deposit into the inmate’s account
Tip: Once your loved one is eligible, scheduling calls happen Wednesday nights from 7:30–10:00 p.m. Mark it on your calendar and fund any accounts ahead of time so you're ready when that first monthly visit opens up.
Find an Inmate at Salem County Jail, NJ
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
