Somerset County Criminal Arrest Records

Somerset County arrest records are held by the Prosecutor's Office, the Sheriff, and the Superior Court in Somerville. The county seat is Somerville, a small town near the center of the state. Somerset County has 21 towns and a mix of rural and suburban areas. The Prosecutor leads all felony case work, and the Sheriff runs the jail. Court records are stored at the courthouse on North Bridge Street. Public access to arrest records in Somerset County is set by the Open Public Records Act. You can also search criminal cases through the state court system online.

Somerset County Prosecutor Arrest Records

The Somerset County Prosecutor's Office is at 40 North Bridge Street in Somerville, NJ 08876. The main phone line is (908) 231-7100. Chief Francisco Roman Jr. leads the office. The Prosecutor handles all felony arrest cases in Somerset County, from the first charge through trial and sentencing. Every time a local police officer makes a felony arrest, the case file goes to this office for review.

The image below shows the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office page, which is the lead agency for criminal cases.

This site lists contact details and services for the Prosecutor in Somerset County.

The Prosecutor's Office runs the STOPit app for tips. The code is SOMERSETNJ. You can also call the tip line at 1-888-577-TIPS. These tools let the public share information about crimes in Somerset County. Tips can lead to arrests, and the records from those arrests are held by the Prosecutor. The office also runs a Victim Witness Portal for people involved in active cases.

If you want records from the Somerset County Prosecutor, you need to file an OPRA request. Under N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1, the office must respond within seven business days. Some files are exempt. Grand jury materials, active case files, and juvenile records are all closed to the public.

Somerset County Sheriff and Jail Records

The Somerset County Sheriff's Office is at 20 Grove Street in Somerville. The phone number is (908) 231-7143. The Sheriff serves court papers, handles civil matters, and works with the jail. The Somerset County Jail is at 40 Grove Street in Somerville. You can reach the jail at (908) 231-7150.

People who are arrested in Somerset County and not released on bail are held at the jail on Grove Street. The booking process logs the person's name, date of birth, charges, and photo. These records form the arrest record for that person. If you need to find out if someone is held at the jail, call (908) 231-7150. Staff can look up the name and check the status.

For public records from the Sheriff, the OPRA custodian can be reached at (908) 231-7030. You can also send an email to OPRA@co.somerset.nj.us. The mailing address is 20 Grove Street, Somerville. The office has seven business days to respond to a request. All arrest records held by the Somerset County Sheriff that are not exempt under state law must be made available to the person who asked.

Somerset County Court Criminal Cases

The Somerset County Criminal Division is at 20 North Bridge Street, 2nd Floor, in Somerville. The phone number is 908-332-7700, extension 13720. Somerset County is part of the same vicinage as Hunterdon and Warren counties. All felony cases from these three counties are handled through this court system. Arrest records tied to these cases are stored at the courthouse.

The image below shows the PROMIS/Gavel search page, which is the state tool for looking up criminal cases in Somerset County.

Use this tool to search for criminal cases by name or case number in Somerset County courts.

The PROMIS/Gavel system is a free online tool run by the state. You can search for criminal cases in Somerset County by name, indictment number, or complaint number. The results show charges, court dates, and the final outcome. Note that PROMIS/Gavel shows only convictions. If a case was dropped or the person was found not guilty, it may not appear in the results. The system is updated each day.

Under N.J.S.A. 2C:52-1, a person can ask the court to expunge certain arrest records in Somerset County. If the judge grants it, the record is sealed. Sealed records do not show up in any public search. Juvenile records are also closed. These rules apply to all court records in Somerset County.

Franklin Township Police Records

The Franklin Township Police Department serves the largest town in Somerset County. The dispatch line is (908) 782-9594. You can also reach them by email at police@franklin-twp.org. The department follows a community policing model, which means officers work closely with the people in their area.

The image below shows the Franklin Township Police Department page.

This page lists services and contact details for the Franklin Township Police in Somerset County.

When Franklin Township police make an arrest, the record is stored at the department. For felony cases, the file is sent to the Somerset County Prosecutor for review. You can ask for arrest records from Franklin Township through an OPRA request. The town must respond within seven business days under state law. Records from minor charges stay with the municipal court. Felony arrest records move to the county level and are stored at the Superior Court in Somerville.

Access to Somerset County Arrest Records

The Open Public Records Act gives the public the right to ask for arrest records from any office in Somerset County. You do not need to state a reason. Each office has its own records custodian who handles these requests.

Here are the main offices that hold arrest records in Somerset County:

• Prosecutor's Office at 40 N. Bridge St, Somerville, (908) 231-7100
• Sheriff's Office at 20 Grove St, Somerville, (908) 231-7143
• County Jail at 40 Grove St, Somerville, (908) 231-7150
• Criminal Division at 20 N. Bridge St, 2nd Floor, 908-332-7700 ext 13720
• OPRA Custodian at (908) 231-7030 or OPRA@co.somerset.nj.us

Each office keeps its own set of records. The Prosecutor holds case files. The Sheriff and jail hold booking records. The court holds trial results and sentences. To get a full picture of an arrest record in Somerset County, you may need to reach out to more than one office. All requests must be answered within seven business days.

Cities in Somerset County

Somerset County has 21 towns. All felony arrest cases go through the Superior Court in Somerville. Each town runs its own municipal court for minor charges.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Somerset County. Each one keeps its own arrest records and runs its own court system. Check the town name to find the right county for a given arrest.