Union County Jail

Search for an Inmate in Union County

Union County Jail Information

The Union County Jail is a 1100 bed jail in the city of Elizabeth, Union County, New Jersey.

This page provides information on how to search for an inmate in the official jail roster, or by calling the facility at 908-558-2600, directions to the facility, and inmate services such as the visitation schedule and policies, funding an inmate's account, mailing them a letter, receiving phone calls from an inmate, voicemail, emailing and texting, tablet rentals, bail bond instructions, and commissary purchases.

Phone: 908-558-2600

Physical Address:
15 Elizabethtown Plaza
Elizabeth, NJ 07207

Other Jails and Prisons

How Do You Find Someone in the Union County Jail?

To search for an inmate in the Union County Jail, review their criminal charges, the amount of their bond, when they can get visits, or even view their mugshot, go to the Official Jail Inmate Roster, or call the jail at 908-558-2600 for the information you are looking for. You can also look up an offender's Criminal Court Case for Union County or any other court in New Jersey.

Union County Jail Inmate Search

The Union County Jail maintains an average of 1100 offenders in custody on any given day. The Union County Jail has a monthly turnover of 40% of their inmate population, another 30% turnover every 90 days, another 20% every six months, and approximately 10% stay incarcerated between six and twelve months. Every year Union County law enforcement agencies arrest and detain approximately 23,600 offenders.

The following charts of Union County inmate population demographics are updated daily. The information shown is for today. For research purposes we have broken down the inmates by sex, age, ethnicity, and criminal charges.

The information is compiled from the Union County Corrections Department, the state of New Jersey Department of Corrections, as well as the United States Department of Justice and Census Bureau records. It represents every person in custody in Union County.

For complete information on how to get directions, bond, visit, mail, send and receive email and texts, receive phone calls, and send money or commissary to an inmate, find arrest information for Union County and other counties surrounding this one, scroll down this page. We have a section for each.

We also provide photos of the jail that we have collected over the years.

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About the Union County Jail
Within Union County the Sheriff’s Office has several responsibilities to the community. Not only are they the first response to local crimes, but they assist the city police as needed, work with federal officers on occasion, and are responsible for all of the inmate transportation within the county. By having Sheriff’s Officers transport inmates between facilities and to all court appearances the local police are able to remain within the cities and conduct regular patrols as well as responding to all calls and serving the necessary warrants. By removing the added task of transporting inmates and allowing the local police to have smaller holding facilities and housing inmates at larger county facilities, there are more resources in place to support the safety of cities and towns throughout the area. All juveniles who are arrested in the county will be taken to the Essex County Juvenile Detention CeCenter where they will have a safe and secure environment, access to phones to call their family, and visitation with their families during visiting days. Only immediate family are permitted to visit. Adult inmates, both male and female, will be housed at the Essex or the Hudson County Jails through a contract with those counties. They will have access to commissary purchases, visits from family members, and access to phones to call each day and remain in contact with both family and their friends. These moments of contact become even more important when offenders are housed outside of their own community as a way to keep connected.
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Recent Bookings & Arrests

How do I find out if someone has been arrested and booked into the Union County Jail?

To find out if someone you know has been recently arrested and booked into the Union County Jail, call the jail’s booking line at 908-558-2600.

There may be an automated method of looking them up by their name over the phone, or you may be directed to speak to someone at the jail. Sometimes the jail staff may ask you the offender’s date of birth to ensure privacy of the offender’s status.

Keep in mind that after an arrest, the information on an offender may not be publicly available for several hours.

If you don’t want to check up on an offender by calling the jail, you can also try looking up people recently booked online.

Union County Jail Booking Roster

What happens during booking in Union County?

After being arrested and taken into custody, and after being read their Miranda Rights, an offender will next be transported to the local police or department or the Sheriff’s Department in Union County for booking.

Booking is very involved and requires multiple steps in the process, however, keep in mind that most attorneys will advise that an offender remain silent and not offer any additional information about the crime they have been arrested for because anything they do say may be recorded and may very well be used against them in court.

What is the booking process like at the Union County Jail?

Booking includes having their photo (mugshot) and fingerprints taken, as well as being asked a lot of questions about their personal history and state of mind. If it’s a serious felony, their DNA may also be taken. They will also be checked for warrants in Union County and other New Jersey and USA jurisdictions.

If the offender was arrested for a DUI offense, and has refused a breathalyzer test, they may also be forced to have blood drawn by a doctor or nurse.

It is also very likely that the offender will undergo a humiliating full body search while in the nude. This includes bending over, spreading their cheeks in the direction of an officer, and coughing. They will also be walked through a metal detector or x-ray machine, like those used at an airport.

What kind of questions are asked during booking?

The arresting jurisdiction will ask about gang affiliations, tattoos, medical conditions, prescribed medication they are taking, recreational drugs they are on or addicted to, allergies, if they are suicidal, and other relevant information that will help with determining their cell assignment and special needs.

What happens to an offender’s personal property during booking?

During the arrest and booking process an offender will also have all their personal property confiscated and held for either their release from jail, or with the offender’s approval, released to a friend or family member.

Personal property includes the clothing they are wearing, money, wallets, purses, cell phones, jewelry, body rings, earrings, watches, and even glasses if they are deemed a security risk. If they are allowed to keep their shoes or sneakers, the laces are removed.

What happens after booking?

At this point the offender will be allowed to make a free phone call to a person of their choice to notify them of their arrest, and/or arrange a bond or bail for their release.

If the offender is being detained and housed while awaiting arraignment, the Union County Jail will provide a jail garment and slip-on shoes, a blanket, sheets, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, and a towel.

Often, before they are dressed in the jail outfit and brought to their housing location, they will be forced to take a shower and undergo a disinfectant treatment for body and hair lice, scabies or other pests that may be residing on their person.

How long does the Union County Jail Booking process take?

Booking can take anywhere from an hour to 24 hours or more. It all depends on the number of people that are awaiting processing, the number of staff on duty at the time, and the behavior of the offender.

If the offender is heavily intoxicated and/or violent, the Booking Officer may decide to stick the offender in a holding cell for several hours until they become more manageable.

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Directions / Map to the Union County Jail
Inmate Bail and Bonding

The Union County Sheriff's Department recommends that you search for and use a Union County licensed bail bond company.
You will need the inmate's full booking name and inmate number which you can find on the Inmate Locator.

Union County Inmates are now housed at either:

Hudson County Correctional Center  

201-395-5600

30-35 South Hackensack Ave.
Kearny, NJ 07032-4690

or

Essex County Correctional Facility

973-274-3001

354 Doremus Avenue
Newark, NJ 07105

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Inmate Visitation

How Do You Visit an Inmate in the Union County Jail? What is the Schedule?

Union County Inmate Visitation

Union County Inmates are now housed at either:

Hudson County Correctional Center  

201-395-5600

30-35 South Hackensack Ave.
Kearny, NJ 07032-4690

or

Essex County Correctional Facility

973-274-3001

354 Doremus Avenue
Newark, NJ 07105

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Union County Jail’s Inmate Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 908-558-2600 for further assistance.

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Remote Video Visitation

Can I Use My Computer or Phone to Have a Remote Video Visit with an Inmate in the Union County Jail?

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Union County Jail’s Video Remote Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 908-558-2600 for further assistance.

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Inmate Money Accounts

How Do You Deposit Money for an Inmate in the Union County Jail?

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Union County Jail’s Inmate Money and Trust Fund Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 908-558-2600 for further assistance.

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Inmate Phone Contact

How Do I Receive Phone Calls from an Inmate in the Union County Jail?

Union County Inmate Phones

Union County Inmates are now housed at either:

Hudson County Correctional Center  

201-395-5600

30-35 South Hackensack Ave.
Kearny, NJ 07032-4690

or

Essex County Correctional Facility

973-274-3001

354 Doremus Avenue
Newark, NJ 07105

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Union County Jail’s Inmate Phone Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 908-558-2600 for further assistance.

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Mailing an Inmate

How do I Mail an Inmate in the Union County Jail, and what can I send them?

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Union County Jail’s Inmate Mail Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 908-558-2600 for further assistance.

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Inmate Commissary

Can I purchase Commissary Online for an Inmate in the Union County Jail, and what can I purchase?

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Union County Jail’s Commissary Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 908-558-2600 for further assistance.

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Texting and Emailing an Inmate

How Can I Communicate with an Inmate in the Union County Jail using an Online Messaging Service?

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Union County Jail’s Text and Email Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 908-558-2600 for further assistance.

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Inmate Tablets

Do Inmates in the Union County Jail have Access to Tablets or Computers?

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Union County Jail’s Tablet Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 908-558-2600 for further assistance.

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Are there photos of the Union County Jail? What does it look like?
Other Jails in Union County

What are the other City and County Jails in Union County?

Union County County Jails
Union County Juvenile Facilities
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Other Jails Nearby

What are the other Jails in the Neighboring Counties surrounding Union County?

Union Essex Hudson Middlesex Somerset Morris
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Search for an Inmate in Union County

This facility, known as "Union County Jail" is also known as Ralph Oriscello Correctional Facility, Union County Department of Corrections, Union County Jail , Union County Jail , New Jersey, Union.