State of New Jersey
       
Department of Corrections
Commissioner
                         Victoria L. Kuhn, Esq.
NJDOC
NJDOC Statement On South Woods State Prison

Community and Volunteerism

NJDOC volunteers support the overall mission of the department and are essential in the effective delivery of programming and supportive services for the offender population. The major goal of the Office of Volunteer Services is to ensure the proper recruitment, processing, training, evaluation and recognition of NJDOC volunteers. As such, the Office of Volunteer Services, through assistance from volunteer coordinators in each institution, recruits, trains and supports individuals throughout the community who seek to volunteer in the areas of religious services, educational and social services programming, medical/psychological services, administration, community programming and recreational services.

Learn More



Correctional Police Officer Recruitment

Responsibilities
The New Jersey State Correctional Police Officer is responsible, during an assigned tour of duty, to ensure the custody, safety and care of incarcerated individuals confined in State correctional facilities.

Start your career with us! APPLY NOW!

Learn More



PREA

The Prison Rape Elimination Act at the New Jersey Department of Corrections

Signed into federal law in 2003, PREA is designed to prevent, detect, and respond to incidences of sexual abuse and sexual harassment in confinement facilities.

Learn More



Alerts

Effective Feb. 20, 2023.

Significant changes are coming to COVID-19 practices.

NOTE: Most routine testing and quarantine incarcerated persons will cease, in line with CDC guidelines. Masking will no longer be required in most situations. Read below for complete information.

Up to date information on county transmission rates can be found here: https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view?list_select_state=New+Jersey&data-type=CommunityLevels

read more

The color-coded system remains in place with the following noted:

ORANGE (HIGH RISK):

  • Not Up to Date Incarcerated Person: No in-person visitation.
  • Up to Date Incarcerated Person: Socially distanced outdoor, non-contact visitation.
  • Visiting Party also Up to Date: Indoor socially distanced, non-contact visitation.

YELLOW (MEDIUM RISK):

  • Not Up to Date Incarcerated Person: Socially distanced outdoor, non-contact visitation.
  • Up to Date Incarcerated Person: Socially distanced outdoor, contact visitation.
  • Visiting Party also Up to Date: Socially distanced, indoor, contact visitation.

GREEN (LOW RISK):

  • Not Up to Date Incarcerated Person: Socially distanced, indoor, non-contact visitation.
  • Up to Date Incarcerated Person: Socially distanced, indoor, contact visitation.
  • Visiting Party also Up to Date: No additional enhancement.

NOTE:

  • Proper masking, and sanitization of the visit area before and after each visit session continues for all risk levels.
  • Incarcerated persons designated as Quarantine or Isolation status will be restricted from in-person visitation until released from that status.

Each institution is to continue with the pre-visit screening process via temperature checks, and the completion of the questionnaire for all visitors prior to entry into the facility. Additionally, in-person visits will continue to be scheduled by appointment only. The NJDOC reserves the right to fully suspend all in-person visitations secondary to a substantial increase or outbreak of cases. Outdoor visits may be suspended for inclement weather (40 °F and/or inclement weather).

Visits sessions will not be limited to one (1) hour and will be conducted in accordance with institutional need and schedule to accommodate the need for indoor and/or outdoor visitation. Prospective visitors should be made aware of timeframes when visits are being scheduled. (*this does not apply to required timeframes for incarcerated primary caretaker visits).

Moreover, please note the definition of the “up-to-date” standard to determine visitation levels.

  • Up to date is defined as: People are considered “up to date” with their COVID-19 vaccines when they have received all doses in the primary series and all booster doses recommended for them, when eligible.

With this in mind, members of the incarcerated population are encouraged to obtain their COVID-19 booster so that they can remain eligible for in-person visitation.

Individuals are best protected when they are up to date with COVID-19 vaccines, which includes receiving a bivalent booster when eligible. All adults 18 or older are recommended to receive their bivalent booster vaccine.

Acceptable documentation for visiting party proof of Up to Date vaccination status: Vaccination card, Docket App, Doctor/NP/PA note.