If you’re driving through downtown Paterson and looking for the Paterson Passaic County Jail at 11 Marshall Street, you’re going to see something that looks more like a construction site—or a demolition zone—than a functional prison. Most people still think the "Old Marshall Street" facility is where the action happens. Honestly, it's not.
The place is a ghost. Basically, as of 2026, the era of housing inmates in that specific, crumbling Paterson building is over. It’s been replaced by a "regional model" that most locals don't even realize is in full swing. If you have a friend or a family member who just got picked up in Passaic County, they aren't sitting in a cell on Marshall Street. They’re likely miles away in Hackensack or Kearny.
The Death of 11 Marshall Street
Let’s be real: that building was a nightmare. Built back in 1957, it was designed to hold about 230 people. By the time the early 2000s rolled around, they were sometimes cramming 1,500 to 1,700 inmates in there. You don't need to be a math genius to see why that didn't work.
The conditions were, frankly, disgusting. We’re talking about lawsuits from the ACLU of New Jersey and federal judges calling the place "shameful" and an "embarrassment to a civilized society." Inmates were eating meals inches away from toilets. During the summer, the heat inside would hit over 100 degrees because the ventilation was nonexistent. It wasn't just a jail; it was a liability waiting to happen.
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By late 2024, the wrecking ball finally showed up. The county decided it was cheaper to pay other jails to take their inmates than to try and fix a facility that was literally falling apart. The Marshall Street Redevelopment Project is now turning that "hell on earth" (as some former inmates called it) into a parking lot and safety complex.
Where are the inmates now?
So, where do you go if you need to post bail or visit someone? Passaic County basically outsourced its entire jail population.
- Bergen County Jail (Hackensack): This is where the majority of Passaic's male inmates ended up. Passaic County signed a 10-year deal to pay Bergen about $104 per inmate, per day.
- Hudson County Jail (Kearny): Most female inmates from Passaic County are sent here through a similar shared-services agreement.
- The Intake Process: Even though they don't stay there, the "system" still flows through Paterson. Processing often happens through the Sheriff’s Office, but the physical bed they sleep in is out of town.
This shift has created a massive headache for families. You used to be able to hop on a bus to downtown Paterson. Now, you’re looking at a trek to Hackensack or Kearny, which—let’s be honest—is a huge barrier for people without a car.
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Why the "Regional Jail" model won?
Money. Plain and simple. To build a brand-new jail in Paterson that met 21st-century standards would have cost the taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. By renting space in Bergen County, which had a half-empty, much newer facility, Passaic County saved a fortune on construction and staffing.
The Human Cost and the "Shadow" of Marshall Street
It wasn't just the inmates who suffered in the old Paterson Passaic County Jail. The staff did too. Just recently, in late 2025, a retired corporal named Richard Camel won a $375,000 lawsuit against the Sheriff’s Office. He’d spent 25 years in that building and testified about a culture of "dated antics," racism, and retaliation.
When you have a facility that is physically decaying, the culture inside tends to rot with it. The closure was as much about ending that toxic environment as it was about the leaky pipes and the rats in the kitchen.
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Visiting and Staying in Touch in 2026
If you're trying to track someone down, don't call the old jail number. It’s useless.
- Use the Bergen County Inmate Lookup: Since most Passaic inmates are in Hackensack, start there. Their online portal is usually updated within 24 hours of booking.
- Video Visitation: Most visits are now done via GTL (GettingOut) or GTL VisMobile. You’ll have to set up an account and get approved, which can take a few days. Don't expect to just show up and see someone through glass.
- The Money Trail: Deposits for commissary are usually handled through JPay or kiosks located at the Bergen County Jail lobby.
Actionable Steps: What to do if someone is arrested
If a loved one is picked up in Paterson today, here is the sequence of events you need to follow. Forget the old rules; the system is fragmented now.
- Step 1: Confirm the Location. Call the Passaic County Sheriff’s Department headquarters (not the jail) at (973) 881-4620. Ask specifically which facility they were transported to.
- Step 2: Check the Bergen County Inmate Portal. If they are in Hackensack, you can find their "Inmate ID" there. You need this ID for everything—bail, mail, and phone credits.
- Step 3: Legal Help. If you can’t afford an attorney, contact Northeast New Jersey Legal Services at 152 Market Street in Paterson. They help with the civil side of things, like housing or family issues that crop up when someone is locked away.
- Step 4: Bail and Release. Most minor offenses now fall under "Bail Reform," meaning they might be released without paying a cent after a risk assessment. If bail is set, you’ll likely be heading to the Passaic County Courthouse on Main Street, not the jail itself.
The Paterson Passaic County Jail as we knew it is a relic of the past. While the empty building on Marshall Street might still be standing (or mostly demolished, depending on the week), the system has moved on. It's more efficient for the county's wallet, but for the people of Paterson, it means "justice" is now a much longer bus ride away.
Next Step: If you are trying to locate an inmate specifically transferred from Paterson, check the NJ Department of Corrections (NJDOC) inmate search tool first, as records are often mirrored there during the transfer process between counties.