New Jersey introduced a mail scanning system in September 2025, routing all personal correspondence through Pigeonly Corrections, a third-party processing center in Las Vegas. Pigeonly opens, screens, scans, and prints mail before shipping copies to each facility. Originals are held 45 days then destroyed.
The system requires a facility code on every envelope - without it, your mail may not reach the right person. Books, magazines, and other publications do not go through Pigeonly; they still go directly to the facility from the publisher or vendor.
Phone calls as of May 2025 cost $0.034 per minute through ViaPath/ConnectNetwork. JPay ended as the deposit vendor in July 2025.
New Jersey DOC refers to incarcerated people as "incarcerated persons" or "incarcerated individuals."
Sending mail - letters and correspondence
All personal, non-privileged mail must go to the Pigeonly processing address - not to the facility. Include the facility code from the list below.
Address format:
[Incarcerated Person's Name - SBI Number]
[Facility Name - Facility Code]
PO Box 96777
Las Vegas, NV 89193
Facility codes:
Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center - 1407
Bayside State Prison - 1403
East Jersey State Prison - 1401
Edna Mahan Correctional Facility - 1405
Garden State Correctional Facility - 1408
Mid-State Correctional Facility - 1404
New Jersey State Prison - 1400
Northern State Prison - 1406
South Woods State Prison - 1402
Special Treatment Unit - 1409
For satellite facilities: use the facility code of the parent facility.
How the scanning process works
Pigeonly receives the envelope, opens it, screens it for contraband, and scans it to a color electronic document. The scan is shared with the facility for further review, then printed and shipped to the facility via Priority Mail. The incarcerated person typically receives printed mail within 1 to 3 days of Pigeonly's shipment. Original mail is held 45 days, then destroyed.
After release, formerly incarcerated individuals can email support@pigeon.ly with their name and SBI number to download their scanned mail items for free. Senders can request original parcels returned within the 45-day window by emailing Support@pigeon.ly.
What Pigeonly accepts
Pigeonly processes only the following:
- Letters, including drawings
- Greeting cards
- Postcards
- 4x6 photographs (maximum 10 per parcel)
- Unbound newsletters
Format requirements for all mail:
- Return name and address required on every envelope
- Envelopes: maximum 4 in. x 9½ in.
- Letters: paper no larger than 8½ in. x 11 in.
- Greeting cards: maximum 5 in. x 7 in.
- Postcards: 5 in. x 7 in.
- Photos: exactly 4 in. x 6 in.; maximum 10 per parcel
What Pigeonly will not accept
The following items will be returned or rejected:
- Mail with glitter, rhinestones, stickers, or glued items
- Wax paper letters
- Shaped-cut photos or papers
- Letters written on tiny papers or sticky notes
- Crystals, religious tokens, coins, toys, key chains, stickers, artwork items
- Unused or blank envelopes, paper, stationery, or stamps
- Newspaper clippings
- Express, Priority, hard-mail, bubble, or large thin paper envelopes
- Stapled items
- Books, booklets, magazines, or anything with a book spine
- Greeting cards that are oversized, electronic, fold-out, 3D, have pop-ups, or are overly thick
- Polaroid photos and photos from third-party vendors (Shutterfly, etc.)
- Official documents (birth certificates, licenses, social security cards)
- Bulk mail
- Any form of money: cash, checks, coins, gift cards, credit cards
Mail will also be rejected if it contains: nudity, explicit sexual material, obscene material, violent language, promotion of violence, or suspected contraband.
Important: If any item in a parcel violates policy, the entire parcel is rejected. For example, if 10 photos are included and one is inappropriate, all 10 are rejected.
Publications - books, magazines, newspapers
Books, magazines, and other publications with a spine must be sent directly to the facility by the vendor, distributor, or publisher - not through Pigeonly.
Note: As of publication, NJDOC has temporarily suspended acceptance of used publications. New publications only until further notice.
Unauthorized publications that violate N.J.A.C. 10A:18-4 will not be accepted. The current list of unauthorized publications is posted at nj.gov/corrections.
Legal and privileged mail
All legal and privileged mail goes directly to the facility - not to Pigeonly. Any legal mail received by Pigeonly will be returned to the sender.
Legal mail includes correspondence from: courts and court staff, government offices, attorneys, the Attorney General's Office, Congress, embassies and consulates, the U.S. Department of Justice, state governors, members of the State Legislature, and law enforcement officers in their official capacity.
The front of the envelope must be clearly marked "Legal Mail," "Attorney/Client," "Confidential," or similar language. Mail readily identifiable as coming from a court will be treated as legal mail even if not marked.
For attorneys: envelopes must include the full law office name and return address.
For courts and government entities: envelopes must include the full name and return address of the court or entity.
Legal mail may only contain documents that originated from the sending attorney or court. Third-party original documentation is prohibited in legal mail.
Phone calls - ViaPath/ConnectNetwork
NJDOC partners with ViaPath Technologies (formerly GTL) for all phone services through the ConnectNetwork platform.
Rate: $0.034 per minute (effective May 1, 2025; a 22% reduction from the prior rate)
International calls: not currently available via the IP phone system
Set up an account at web.connectnetwork.com.
Customer service: 877-650-4249
AdvancePay automated payment: 800-483-8314
Trust Fund automated payment: 888-988-4768
PIN Debit automated payment: 855-706-2445
Cash deposits can be made at over 26,000 retail locations using a Pay Slip generated in the ConnectNetwork account. The same Pay Slip can be reused for up to one year.
All calls are subject to recording, listening, and/or monitoring. Exceptions: attorney/client calls, the Office of Corrections Ombudsperson, Hyacinth Foundation, and the Special Investigations Division are not recorded.
To block calls: contact GTL at 1-866-230-7761. To request a statewide unblock: write to the NJDOC Telecommunications Office, 1400 Stuyvesant Avenue, Trenton, NJ 08618, or call 609-292-4036, ext. 5665.
For calls related to no-contact orders, harassment, or witness intimidation: contact local police and the Special Investigations Division at 800-523-3829.
Email, video visits, and messaging - transitioning from JPay to ViaPath
As of July 31, 2025, JPay is no longer used for financial deposits, but JPay kiosk services for email and video visits were still referenced on the NJDOC website at time of publication. NJDOC is transitioning tablet and communication services to ViaPath Technologies throughout 2025-2026.
Email and videograms: through JPay (jpay.com) until full ViaPath transition. Visit jpay.com for current rates and setup.
Video visitation: through JPay; 30-minute sessions; maximum one session per week per visitor; must be scheduled at least 3 days in advance. Available 8:00am-3:00pm and 5:50pm-8:00pm. Not available at Northern State Prison or the Special Treatment Unit. Must be an approved visitor. Video visits are recorded and monitored.
New ViaPath tablets: being introduced across NJDOC facilities. Tablets are NJDOC property, loaned to incarcerated persons at no cost. They provide educational resources, legal materials, video visitation, and other communication tools.
For current status of the ViaPath transition: nj.gov/corrections/pages/viapath.html.
Sending money - ViaPath/ConnectNetwork (since March 24, 2025)
Online: connectnetwork.com
Fee schedule:
$0.01 - $9.99: $0.90
$10.00 - $19.99: $1.75
$20.00 - $99.99: $5.95
$100.00 - $199.99: $6.95
$200.00 - $300.00: $7.95
Trust account money order deposits: use the ViaPath deposit slip (available at nj.gov/corrections/pages/viapath.html). Mail to:
TouchPay Holdings, LLC
10005 Technology Blvd West, Suite 130
Dallas, TX 75220
The trust account can be used for: commissary, phone calls, business remits (publications, gifts, donations), incentive programs, and transfers to media accounts.
New Jersey county jails
New Jersey has 21 counties, each operating its own county correctional facility. County jails are not part of NJDOC and have their own mail and deposit rules. Contact the specific county facility directly.
What to know before you send anything
Letters go to Pigeonly in Las Vegas - include the SBI number and facility code. Do not send to the facility directly.
Include the return address on every envelope. Max envelope size: 4 in. x 9½ in. Max letter size: 8½ x 11 in.
Photos must be 4x6, limit 10 per parcel. No Shutterfly/Polaroid. No glitter, stickers, staples, or anything with a spine.
Any violation in a parcel = entire parcel rejected.
Books, magazines, newspapers: directly to facility from publisher/vendor - not through Pigeonly. No used publications currently.
Legal mail: directly to facility, clearly marked, full return address.
Phone: ViaPath/ConnectNetwork at web.connectnetwork.com; $0.034/minute; 877-650-4249 for customer service.
Money: ConnectNetwork at connectnetwork.com (fee schedule above), or money order with ViaPath deposit slip to TouchPay in Dallas.
Email/video: JPay still listed; ViaPath tablets rolling out. Check nj.gov/corrections/pages/viapath.html for current transition status.
County jails: contact each directly.
Related pages:
/prisons/new-jersey
How to send money to a New Jersey inmate
Send mail and photos through InmateAid
Arrest Record Search (affiliate)
Frequently asked questions
Where do I mail a letter to a New Jersey DOC inmate?
To Pigeonly Corrections in Las Vegas - not to the facility. Address it: [Name - SBI Number] / [Facility Name - Facility Code] / PO Box 96777 / Las Vegas, NV 89193. Find the facility code from the list above. Include your full return address.
What is the SBI number?
The SBI (State Bureau of Identification) number is the inmate's DOC identification number. Find it through the NJDOC Offender Search Engine at nj.gov/corrections.
What happens to my original letter?
Pigeonly holds the original for 45 days, then destroys it. The incarcerated person receives a printed scan. To request your original returned, email Support@pigeon.ly within 45 days.
Can I send photos?
Yes - 4x6 prints only, maximum 10 per parcel, through Pigeonly. No Polaroids or prints from third-party vendors like Shutterfly. No shaped cuts.
Can I send a book?
Books and publications with a spine must be sent directly to the facility from the publisher, vendor, or distributor - not through Pigeonly. No used publications currently.
How do I send money?
Through ViaPath/ConnectNetwork at connectnetwork.com (online, phone, app, or retail cash deposits). Or by money order using the ViaPath deposit slip mailed to TouchPay in Dallas.
How do I set up phone calls?
Through ConnectNetwork at web.connectnetwork.com. Calls cost $0.034/minute. Customer service: 877-650-4249. International calls are not currently available.
How do I set up video visits or email?
Through JPay at jpay.com (still referenced as of publication date). Video visits: 30-minute sessions, one per week, at least 3 days in advance. ViaPath tablets are being phased in - check nj.gov/corrections/pages/viapath.html for latest. ====================================================================
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