Search New Jersey Criminal Court Records
New Jersey criminal court records are public documents held by the Superior Court in each of the 21 counties and by municipal courts across the state. County courts store full criminal case files at the Criminal Division of the Superior Court. The state judiciary runs online portals that let you search criminal court records by name or case number. You can look up these records online, by mail, or in person at courthouses throughout New Jersey. This guide covers how to find and access criminal court records at every level of the New Jersey court system.
New Jersey Criminal Court Records Quick Facts
Where to Find New Jersey Criminal Court Records
There are two main court levels that handle criminal cases in New Jersey. The Superior Court, Criminal Division in each county handles indictable offenses. These are serious crimes like assault, robbery, drug distribution, and weapons charges. Each county has a Criminal Division Records Room where staff keep all case files. You can visit these offices in person or request records by mail. The NJ Courts Criminal Division Records Room listing shows the address and phone number for every county.
Municipal courts make up the second level of the criminal court system in New Jersey. Over 500 municipal courts handle disorderly persons offenses, petty disorderly persons offenses, traffic violations, and local ordinance violations. These are less serious matters that carry up to six months in jail. Each city or town runs its own municipal court. Records for these cases stay at the local court where the matter was heard. To get municipal court criminal records in New Jersey, contact the specific court listed on the summons or complaint.
The NJ Courts Public Access portal lets you search criminal court records from home at any time. This free tool covers all 21 counties. You can search criminal cases by name or county. The system shows case status, charges, and court dates. For actual copies of documents, you need to contact the county clerk or visit the courthouse in New Jersey.
Note: Only defendants with cases resulting in conviction and sentencing in Superior Court appear in the online search for New Jersey criminal court records.
How to Search Criminal Court Records in New Jersey
New Jersey offers several ways to look up criminal court records. Online access is the fastest method. You can search from home at any time. In-person visits work well when you need certified copies or want to review the full case file. Both options are open to anyone in New Jersey.
The PROMIS/Gavel Public Access system provides online access to criminal case information for Superior Court cases. This portal tracks indictable criminal cases from the point of arrest through every stage including appeals. You can search by defendant name, indictment number, or complaint number. The system is free to use for basic case information in New Jersey.
To search criminal court records through these portals, you need:
- Full name of the defendant
- County where the case was filed
- Case number or indictment number if known
- Approximate date of the case
The Municipal Court Case Search handles traffic tickets and minor criminal complaints at the local level. You need a ticket number, complaint number, or the defendant's name. This portal covers all municipal courts in New Jersey. For written requests, you can download the Records Request Form from the NJ Courts website and submit it through the Judiciary Electronic Document Submission (JEDS) system or by mail to the appropriate Criminal Records Room.
Types of Criminal Court Records in New Jersey
New Jersey criminal court records include several types of documents. The most common are case files from the Criminal Division. These files contain the complaint, indictment, plea agreements, motions, court orders, and the final judgment of conviction or acquittal. The case file tells the full story of a criminal proceeding from start to finish in New Jersey.
In New Jersey, serious crimes are classified as indictable offenses. These are the equivalent of felonies in other states. Indictable offenses range from first degree crimes like murder and armed robbery down to fourth degree crimes like certain theft offenses. The Superior Court Criminal Division handles all indictable cases. Criminal court records for these cases include arrest records, booking information, court proceedings, and sentencing records. Less serious offenses are called disorderly persons offenses. These are similar to misdemeanors. Simple assault, shoplifting under $200, and possession of small amounts of certain drugs fall into this category. Municipal courts handle these cases, and the records stay at the local court level in New Jersey.
Criminal court records in New Jersey typically contain:
- Defendant name and identifying details
- Charges filed and statutes cited
- Court dates and hearing outcomes
- Plea agreements if applicable
- Verdict and sentencing information
- Probation or parole conditions
Certain criminal court records are restricted from public access in New Jersey. Under Court Rule 1:38, juvenile records, expunged records, records sealed by court order, and records containing confidential personal identifiers like Social Security numbers are not available to the public. Grand jury proceedings and domestic violence case records also have restrictions.
New Jersey Criminal Court System
New Jersey organizes its courts into vicinages. Some vicinages serve a single county. Others combine two or three counties under shared administration. Each vicinage has its own Criminal Division that manages criminal court records. The 21 counties are grouped into 15 vicinages across the state.
The Criminal Division in each county operates a Records Room. This is the office where you go to request criminal court records in person. Staff can help you find cases by defendant name, docket number, complaint number, or indictment number. Hours are typically Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Court staff can give procedural guidance but cannot give legal advice about criminal court records in New Jersey.
The NJ Courts criminal courts page explains how the Criminal Division works across all counties. For municipal court matters, the NJ Municipal Courts page provides contact details for every local court. Municipal courts resolve almost 6 million cases each year in New Jersey, making them the busiest courts in the state judicial system.
Public Access to Criminal Court Records
Yes, criminal court records are generally public in New Jersey. Under the New Jersey Open Public Records Act (OPRA), N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq., citizens have the right to access government records. This applies to criminal court records held by the courts. You do not have to be a party in the case. The records are open to anyone who requests them in New Jersey.
OPRA became effective on July 7, 2002 and replaced the former Right to Know Law. Under this law, government records shall be readily accessible for inspection, copying, or examination by the citizens of New Jersey, with certain exceptions for the protection of the public interest. Court records are generally considered public information. You can inspect public criminal court records at the courthouse during regular business hours at no charge under N.J. Court Rule 1:38-9.
The NJ OPRA Request Portal helps anyone submit a properly formatted public records request to any New Jersey public agency. It guides you step by step and adds the required legal certifications. There is no cost to use this portal. The Government Records Council at 866-850-0511 can help if your request for criminal court records is denied in New Jersey.
Note: Criminal investigatory records that are not required by law to be maintained are exempt from OPRA disclosure in New Jersey.
Criminal Court Record Fees in New Jersey
Fees for copies of criminal court records follow a standard schedule across all New Jersey counties. Inspecting records in person at the courthouse is free. You only pay when you need copies. The fee structure is set by the New Jersey Judiciary and applies at every Superior Court and municipal court in the state.
The standard fees for criminal court records in New Jersey are:
- Letter size pages: $0.05 per page
- Legal size pages: $0.07 per page
- Certified copy: $15 per document
- Seal of the Court: $10 per document
- Exemplified copy: $50 plus copy fees
- Triple exemplified copy: $60
Payment methods include cash for in-person pickups, and checks or money orders made payable to Treasurer, State of New Jersey. Some courts accept credit cards at the window. For statewide criminal history checks through the New Jersey State Police, the fee is $41 for personal records. This requires fingerprinting through an approved vendor like IdentoGO by IDEMIA. Results come by mail within 3 to 4 weeks.
Criminal Record Expungement in New Jersey
New Jersey law allows certain criminal records to be expunged. Expungement removes the record from public access. Once expunged, the criminal court record is treated as if it never existed. The New Jersey Judiciary provides expungement packets and instructions on the njcourts.gov website.
Standard expungements require a $75 filing fee payable to the Treasurer, State of New Jersey. Certain convictions are not eligible for expungement. These include serious violent offenses and certain drug distribution offenses. The expungement process typically takes 6 to 12 months from filing to final court order. You file the petition with the Criminal Division in the county where the case was heard. Individuals seeking to expunge criminal court records should check the eligibility requirements under N.J.S.A. 2C:52-1 before filing in New Jersey.
Requesting Criminal Court Records by Mail
You can request criminal court records by mail in New Jersey. Download the Records Request Form from the NJ Courts website. Complete the form with the defendant's name, case number if known, and the type of record you need. Include a check or money order for the copy fees. Mail the form and payment to the Criminal Division Records Room in the county where the case was heard.
You can also submit requests through the NJ OPRA Request Portal or by email to SCCO.Mailbox@njcourts.gov for Superior Court records. Allow 7 to 10 business days for processing. The court will mail copies to you or notify you when they are ready for pickup. For municipal court criminal records, contact the specific court directly in New Jersey.
The Criminal Division Records Room listing has the mailing address for every county in New Jersey. Each office can process mail requests for criminal court records within its jurisdiction.
Browse New Jersey Criminal Court Records by County
Each county in New Jersey has its own Superior Court that keeps criminal court records. Pick a county below to find local contact info and resources for criminal court records in that area.
Criminal Court Records in Major New Jersey Cities
Residents of major cities access criminal court records through their county Superior Court for serious offenses and their local municipal court for minor matters. Pick a city below to learn about criminal court records in that area.