Official Site of The State of New Jersey

COVID-19

NJDOC to Reinstate Public Health Emergency Credits
Following the announcement of the Governor's public health emergency related to the COVID-19 Omicron variant, the New Jersey Department of Corrections (NJDOC) has reinstated public health emergency credits towards time off the sentence of certain classes of offenders who are already within 365 days of their release date. As required by law, no individual will be released who has been convicted of any sex crime imposed under 2C:47-1 deemed repetitive and compulsive, murder 2C:11-3, and aggravated sexual assault 2C:14-2a.

The Department has worked to ensure a seamless reentry process. Balancing public health and public safety, individuals are COVID tested before release and provided a “COVID Kit” with essentials such as sanitizer and masks, and the Department is managing transportation both private, public, and ambulatory for those with mobility issues. The Department is setting up a dedicated hotline to assist with inquiries that may arise following their release. That number is (609) 826-5671. Additionally, the NJDOC provides the prerelease reentry preparation services for every offender released from custody:

• assistance with applying/obtaining state ID’s, affordable healthcare, duplicate birth certificates and Social Security cards;
• financial aid to the most indigent individuals, i.e. those deemed homeless with limited funds of their own;
• two weeks’ supply of prescription medication with a 90-day prescription for additional medication;
• plan for a continuum of treatment for those on Medication-Assisted Treatment;
• Narcan for those battling substance use disorder; and
• transit assistance home, where necessary.

Furthermore, NJDOC is working with its partners in the Departments of Health, Human Services, and Community Affairs as well as the Motor Vehicle Commission and the State Parole Board, local and county Boards of Social Services, and its network of reentry partners in communities, including Community in Cooperation, New Jersey Reentry Corp, and Volunteers of America. These partnerships better enable the Department to fulfill its core mission meeting the needs of the individuals under our care, helping to build communities impacted by criminal justice and in doing so realizing that no agency operates in a vacuum, that we are indeed better together. Released individuals will receive a continuum of support post-release, removing barriers to housing, employment, and medical access, and creating pathways for reintegration into society.

The Department has notified the county prosecutors and local law enforcement agencies, including the New Jersey State Police.

Eligible individuals have been notified of their release date. Families with questions related to pick-up can dial the institution of release for more information. Contact information can be found, under the tab “Facilities.”

NJDOC Virus Mitigation Strategy
From the onset of the pandemic, the Department took immediate action to mitigate the spread of the virus. A number of these measures are noted in the following video including ongoing testing and vaccinations.

The following information tracks the COVID-19 pandemic across our facilities, utilizing data from the Department's universal testing initiative and voluntary vaccination program. NJDOC’s universal testing initiative is the largest testing initiative in the state and among the first in a correctional setting. The data does not reflect staff tests and vaccines acquired outside of the Department’s facilities, within the community. Data is updated biweekly.