The Somerset County Jail on Grove Street in Somerville is no longer a place where people stay. Under a five-year shared services agreement with Morris County that took effect June 1, 2024, Somerset County moved its longer-term detainees to the Morris County Correctional Facility. Since October 22, 2024, everyone taken into custody in Somerset County is processed in Somerville and then transferred to the Morris County Jail. The Somerset facility no longer houses anyone overnight.
For families, this means two locations to keep track of: Somerville for booking and court, and Morristown for custody. Here is how it works.
Somerset County Custody: Two Facilities
| Booking (processing hub) | Somerset County Jail, 40 Grove Street, Somerville, NJ 08876 · (908) 231-7150 |
| Housing | Morris County Correctional Facility, 43 John Street, Morristown, NJ |
| Operated by | Somerset County Sheriff’s Office (Somerville); Morris County Sheriff’s Office (Morristown) |
| Court | Somerset County Courthouse, 20 North Bridge Street, Somerville |
| Our office | 1200 Route 22 East, Suite 2000, Bridgewater, NJ 08807 · (732) 858-6959 |
Our Bridgewater office is close to the Somerville courthouse. Call (732) 858-6959 as soon as you learn of an arrest.
Somerville, Then Morristown
Custody path after a Somerset County arrest under the shared services agreement with Morris County.
Why the Change Happened
Somerset County’s jail population has declined in recent years, a trend that accelerated after New Jersey’s 2017 bail reform replaced most cash bail with risk-based release decisions. After a year of study, county officials and the Sheriff converted the Grove Street jail into a “detention hub” and contracted with Morris County to house detainees. Somerset’s jail continues to operate on a limited basis to process arrests and support court proceedings.
The Pretrial Population Over Time
New Jersey Judiciary figures show the long decline behind the jail change. On December 31, 2015, Somerset County held 181 people in jail awaiting trial. By the end of 2024, that number was 88, down 51.4 percent. Unlike many counties, Somerset’s pretrial population ticked up in 2024, from 81 to 88 (8.6 percent). Even so, it remained a fraction of pre-reform levels.
Somerset County nonsentenced pretrial jail population on December 31 of each year. Source: NJ Courts, Criminal Justice Reform Statistics. Somerset detainees are now housed in Morris County.
Somerset County also detains a somewhat larger share of people held on complaint-warrants than the state as a whole: 23.1 percent in 2024, compared with 21.1 percent statewide. If your family member was held after an arrest, a detention motion is a real possibility. Getting a lawyer involved before the first appearance matters.
Step by Step After a Somerset County Arrest
1. Arrest and charges
Local police in towns such as Franklin, Bridgewater, Hillsborough, North Plainfield or Bound Brook, the State Police, or the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office file the complaint. Lower-level and many indictable charges are issued on a summons, and the person goes home. A complaint-warrant means custody.
2. Processing in Somerville
At 40 Grove Street, the person is fingerprinted, photographed, screened and has property inventoried. The jail’s medical provider screens for alcohol and opioid use disorders. People who qualify may be offered Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), with continued support after release.
3. Transfer to Morris County
If the person is not released, they are transferred to the Morris County Correctional Facility. From then on, Morris County’s rules govern visits, mail, deposits and phone calls.
4. First appearance
A Somerset judge must hold a first appearance within 48 hours of commitment to jail. The defendant usually appears by video. Most people are released on conditions. If the State seeks detention, a hearing is scheduled. See our page on Somerset County first appearances and detention hearings.
5. Release
Confirm with the facility or your lawyer where the release will happen so you can arrange a ride. A release from Morristown is a different trip than a release from Somerville.
Contacting and Supporting Someone in Custody
- Visits: In-person visits are not held in Somerville, because no one is housed there. Check the Morris County Correctional Facility’s current visitation rules before you go.
- Money and commissary: Deposits go through the facility where the person is housed. Ask Morris County which methods it accepts.
- Calls: All jail calls are recorded. Keep conversations about family, logistics and well-being, never about the case.
- Medications: Tell the defense lawyer and the facility about any prescriptions or medical conditions.
Holds From Other Courts
A judge’s release order in a Somerset case does not always mean an immediate release. If the person also has a warrant or detainer from another court, the facility may keep holding them until that matter is addressed. Common holds include:
- Municipal court bench warrants from towns in Somerset or elsewhere in New Jersey
- Warrants from other counties, which can lead to a transfer to that county
- Out-of-state warrants that may involve extradition
- Violation of probation or parole detainers
A defense lawyer should check for every open warrant at the beginning of the case and try to resolve them together. Clearing an old municipal warrant can sometimes be done with a phone call and a new court date, but only if someone makes the call.
Release and Pickup
When a judge orders release, processing takes time. The facility has to confirm the order, check for holds, return property and complete paperwork. Families should:
- Confirm the release location before driving, since it may be Morristown rather than Somerville
- Bring identification and be ready to wait
- Bring a phone charger, a change of clothes and any needed medications
- Review the release conditions with your loved one right away, including Pretrial Services reporting instructions and any no-contact orders
The first reporting deadline with Pretrial Services often comes within days. Missing it can lead to a violation, so write down the instructions before you leave.
Who Is Held in Custody
Before the change, the Somerset County Jail held people awaiting trial, people sentenced to municipal terms of up to 180 days or Superior Court terms of up to 364 days, people awaiting transfer to state prison, and people on holds for other jurisdictions. Those groups are now housed in Morris County. Somerset handles intake and short-term processing for court.
Medication-Assisted Treatment and Health Needs
Somerset County’s jail, together with its medical provider, screens people who report an alcohol or opioid use disorder, or who test positive for opioids, for Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT). People who qualify can choose among several medications, along with counseling and education, and receive help continuing treatment after release.
For families, this matters in two ways. First, untreated withdrawal can be dangerous, so tell the defense lawyer and the facility about any substance use or prescriptions right away. Second, a documented treatment plan can be powerful evidence at a first appearance or detention hearing. It can support release with conditions such as treatment and testing instead of detention.
Common Questions From Families on Day One
- “Where is my son or daughter right now?” If the arrest was within the last few hours, they may still be in Somerville. After that, check with Morris County or have a lawyer confirm.
- “When is the court date?” The first appearance must happen within 48 hours of commitment to jail, including on weekends.
- “Do we need to bring money?” Usually not. Cash bail is rare, and release decisions are based on conditions.
- “Should we talk to the police?” Families should avoid discussing the case with police and should let the defense attorney handle communication.
How a Lawyer Helps in the First 48 Hours
- Confirms the charges and whether the State plans to seek detention
- Gathers documents that support release: housing, employment, school and treatment
- Speaks with the client before the first appearance, even though they are in Morris County
- Argues for the least restrictive conditions at the hearing
- Explores a voluntary surrender on outstanding warrants to avoid future arrests
Frequently Asked Questions
I was told my family member is “in Somerville.” Are they still there?
Possibly for a few hours during processing. Anyone held longer is transferred to Morris County. Call the Somerset County Jail at (908) 231-7150 or contact a lawyer to confirm.
Does being held in Morris County change the court?
No. The case stays in Somerset County, with Somerset judges and the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office.
How long will the Morris County arrangement last?
The agreement that took effect in June 2024 has a five-year term. Any changes would be announced by the county.
Is the Somerset County Jail closed?
No. It operates as a processing hub at 40 Grove Street in Somerville, but it no longer houses anyone overnight. People who are held are transferred to the Morris County Correctional Facility.
Can a lawyer meet with someone held in Morris County?
Yes. Defense attorneys arrange legal visits and confidential calls through the Morris County Correctional Facility, even though the case is in Somerset County.
Talk to a Somerset County Criminal Defense Lawyer
Keith Oliver, William Proetta and Brett Rosen help families through the first days after a Somerset County arrest. Call (732) 858-6959 or contact us online.
More Somerset County Criminal Defense Guides
- Somerset County Superior Court criminal cases
- First appearances and detention hearings in Somerset County
- If the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office contacts you
- Clearing a warrant in Somerset County
- Somerset County criminal defense lawyers