Search New Jersey Arrest Records
New Jersey arrest records are public documents held by county sheriff offices, local police departments, and the state court system. Each of the 21 counties in New Jersey keeps its own booking logs, criminal case files, and inmate records. You can search arrest records online through the NJ Courts system, the Department of Corrections offender database, or by contacting the sheriff office in the county where the arrest took place. State law gives the public a right to view most arrest records in New Jersey. This page covers how to find them, where to look, and what you need to start your search.
New Jersey Arrest Records Quick Facts
How to Search Arrest Records in New Jersey
New Jersey offers several ways to look up arrest records. The fastest method is an online search. The NJ Courts website at njcourts.gov gives free access to criminal case data across all 21 counties. You can search by name or case number. The system shows charges, court dates, and case outcomes for indictable offenses heard in Superior Court.
The PROMIS/Gavel Public Access system tracks indictable criminal cases from arrest through appeals. It captures information on defendants charged with indictable offenses in New Jersey. You can search by defendant name, indictment number, or complaint number. The system shows case status, charges filed, court dates, disposition, and sentencing details. No registration is needed. Results show only defendants who were convicted and sentenced in Superior Court. The database updates daily but may have a 24 to 48 hour delay from actual court proceedings.
For people currently in state prison, the NJ Department of Corrections Offender Search lets you look up inmates by name, SBI number, or county. This database covers state facilities but does not include county jails. It updates every two weeks. Offenders are removed one year after they finish their sentence. Those with Community Supervision for Life or Parole Supervision for Life stay on the site for good.
Note: Phone calls about offender information are not accepted by the NJ Department of Corrections. All questions must go in writing to PO Box 863, Trenton, NJ 08625.
New Jersey Arrest Records and OPRA
The Open Public Records Act, found at N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1, is the state law that gives the public access to government records in New Jersey. This includes arrest records held by sheriff offices, police departments, and prosecutors. OPRA applies to actual records, not verbal requests for facts. You must submit a written request on the official form.
Each agency has its own records custodian who handles OPRA requests. The custodian must respond within seven business days. Copy fees are set by law. Letter size pages cost five cents each. Legal size pages cost seven cents. Certified copies may cost more. If your request is denied, you can appeal to the Government Records Council at 866-850-0511 or file a case in Superior Court. Some arrest records are exempt from OPRA. These include criminal investigatory records tied to active cases, juvenile records, sealed records, and domestic violence data under N.J.S.A. 2C:25-33.
You can use the state OPRA request form from nj.gov/opra for any state agency. County and city offices often have their own forms too.
County Sheriff Arrest Records
Each county sheriff office in New Jersey maintains arrest records for people booked into the county jail. These files contain personal details, fingerprints, photos, charges, and bail information. Many counties offer online inmate lookup tools where you can search by name, date of birth, or booking number. Results typically show current custody status, charges, bond amounts, and court dates.
Some counties have large databases. Camden County's Bureau of Criminal Identification keeps over 200,000 criminal files and processes more than 50,000 criminal contacts each year. They use PictureLink.Net to share offender data with law enforcement agencies across the country. Essex County's Bureau of Criminal Investigation holds over 300,000 criminal record files searchable by name, date of birth, SBI number, or address through their Records Management System. Bergen County Jail has 1,150 beds and offers an online inmate lookup tool at bcsd.us. The Monmouth County Correctional Institution has a capacity of 1,328 inmates and ranks among the top ten largest county facilities in the nation.
To get copies of arrest records from a county sheriff, you submit an OPRA request. Most sheriff offices accept requests in person, by mail, or by email. Fees are standard across the state. Five cents per page for letter size and seven cents for legal size. Some offices charge no fee at all for basic requests.
New Jersey Criminal History Records
Criminal history records in New Jersey are governed by N.J.A.C. 13:59-1 et seq. The NJ State Police maintain the central repository for all criminal history record information statewide. Only the subject of a record or authorized persons can get criminal history records directly from the State Police. For public access to criminal court records, the Superior Court system is the main source.
Records retention varies by offense type in New Jersey. Arrest reports are kept for 75 years. Indictable criminal case files for murder, manslaughter, and sexual offenses are kept permanently. Other indictable offense files are held for 15 years after disposition. Municipal court files for disorderly persons offenses last 15 years. Petty disorderly persons files are five years. Traffic violations are three years.
The Division of Criminal Justice investigates and prosecutes violations of New Jersey criminal laws. The division has over 400 detectives, prosecutors, and support staff. They focus on high impact cases that need specialized resources. You can report a crime at 800-277-2427 or call the corruption hotline at 866-847-7425.
Note: Under NJ law, criminal history records from the State Police are not the same as court records available through OPRA requests.
Sex Offender Registry and Arrest Records
New Jersey law at N.J.S.A. 2C:7-12 through 2C:7-19 authorizes the State Police to publish information about certain sex offenders online. The NJ Sex Offender Internet Registry (Megan's Law) shows details on tier 2 and tier 3 offenders. Tier 3 offenders pose a high risk of reoffense. Tier 2 offenders have moderate risk. Tier 1 offenders are not shown on the public site.
Information on the registry includes the offender's name, address, aliases, offenses, age, race, physical description, photo, and vehicle details. Registrants are classified through a court hearing based on factors like offense severity, history, and response to treatment. This data is public but may not be used to threaten or harass anyone. Misuse can lead to criminal charges or civil liability in New Jersey.
NJ Corrections and Parole Records
The New Jersey Department of Corrections runs nine correctional facilities, eleven residential community release programs, and one assessment center. Their offender search page lets you look up inmates by name or SBI number. The DOC mission focuses on public safety and successful reentry. The department is transitioning services from JPay to ViaPath Technologies starting in March 2025 to improve communications and financial transactions.
The NJ State Parole Board supervises more than 15,000 offenders statewide. The Parole Board's own offender search page is no longer available. To find a parolee, use the Department of Corrections search engine instead. You can also email the Parole Board at SPB-Public-Info-Office@spb.nj.gov. To submit an anonymous tip about a parolee or absconder, email SPB-Fugitive-Tip-Submit@spb.nj.gov.
The DOC offender search uses a glossary of terms to help you read results. "Current Max Release Date" is the most recent calculated release date based on days earned or lost. "Current Parole Eligibility Date" is the expected release date based on the Parole Board's policies. Crime degrees range from first degree (most severe) to fourth degree (least severe) under New Jersey law.
Victim Notification for New Jersey Arrests
Crime victims in New Jersey can track an offender's custody status through the VINE system. VINE stands for Victim Information and Notification Everyday. Call 877-VINE-4-NJ to register for free alerts. The system sends updates when an offender's status changes, such as a release or transfer.
The Victims of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO) provides financial help to victims and their families. The VCCO was created by the Criminal Injury Compensation Act of 1971. It has given over $10 million to surviving 9/11 family members alone. Call 877-658-2221 for help. The Division of Criminal Justice also runs the Bias Crime hotline at 800-277-BIAS and the human trafficking line at 855-363-6548.
New Jersey Crime Data and Arrest Statistics
The NJ State Police Uniform Crime Reporting Unit collects crime data from every agency in the state. This data is compiled under N.J.S.A. 52:17 B-5 to meet federal reporting requirements. Each agency is responsible for the accuracy of the data it submits. Year end data may be subject to review before final publication. The reported figures are preliminary. UCR data may not match statistics compiled using different methods.
Under the current month column, zeros mean an agency reported no offenses or is late submitting data. If no crime was reported in a category for both years, that category is not shown. The data may not include state police, NJ Transit Police, park police, or port authority police figures.
Municipal Court Arrest Records in New Jersey
Municipal courts in New Jersey handle disorderly persons offenses, petty disorderly persons offenses, traffic violations, and local ordinance violations. These are less serious than indictable offenses. Each municipality has its own court. Records from these courts are separate from Superior Court records.
You can search municipal court cases through NJMCDirect. This portal lets you pay tickets, enter pleas, and search for complaint numbers. The Judiciary Electronic Document Submission system (JEDS) lets you upload documents and request court records online. For records from a specific municipal court, contact that court directly. Public defenders are available in municipal court for people who meet income guidelines set by the state.
Indictable offenses go to the county Superior Court. These are the more serious criminal charges in New Jersey. The county prosecutor handles all indictable cases. Arrest records for these cases are found through the PROMIS/Gavel system or by visiting the criminal division records office at the county courthouse.
Browse New Jersey Arrest Records by County
Each county in New Jersey has its own sheriff office and court that keeps arrest records. Pick a county below to find local contact info and resources for arrest records in that area.
Arrest Records in Major New Jersey Cities
Residents of major cities can search for arrest records through their county sheriff office and local police department. Pick a city below to learn about arrest records in that area.