Paterson Criminal Court Records
Paterson criminal court records can be found through the Paterson Municipal Court and the Passaic County Superior Court. Paterson is the county seat of Passaic County and home to about 150,000 people. The municipal court at 111 Broadway handles disorderly persons offenses, traffic violations, and local ordinance matters. Indictable criminal offenses are processed at the Passaic County Courthouse at 77 Hamilton Street. You can search Paterson criminal court records online using the New Jersey Judiciary case lookup tools, or visit either courthouse in person to request case files and certified copies.
Paterson Quick Facts
Paterson Municipal Court Records
The Paterson Municipal Court is at 111 Broadway, Paterson, NJ 07505. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. The phone number is (973) 321-1570. This court handles all traffic violations, disorderly persons offenses, and ordinance matters in Paterson. It processes thousands of cases each year, from parking tickets to simple assault charges. The Court Administrator oversees all operations, case management, and records retention for Paterson criminal court records.
Court sessions run on select days each week. Traffic matters are heard on certain days. Criminal complaints go on others. Multiple judges preside over sessions in Paterson. The Court Administrator's office can answer questions about session dates and times for specific case types. Defendants should check their summons for the exact date and arrive early for security screening.
| Court | Paterson Municipal Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 111 Broadway Paterson, NJ 07505 |
| Phone | (973) 321-1570 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM |
All visitors pass through security at the Paterson courthouse. Metal detectors and bag checks are standard. Weapons, cameras, and recording devices are not allowed in the courtroom. The building has ramps, elevators, and accessible restrooms. Call at least 48 hours ahead if you need special help or an interpreter when visiting for criminal court records in Paterson. Spanish interpreters are regularly available for court sessions.
Search Paterson Criminal Cases
The New Jersey Courts website lets you search Paterson criminal court records online for free. Enter a party name or docket number to find basic case data. Results include filing dates, case status, and docket entries. This covers both municipal and superior court cases in Paterson.
The PROMIS/Gavel Public Access system is another way to look up municipal court cases. Search by name, case number, or court location. The system shows charge details, case status, and court dates for criminal court records in Paterson. It is free and available online at all hours.
The screenshot below shows the NJ Courts PROMIS/Gavel portal for looking up Paterson criminal court records.
This statewide system covers municipal court cases from Paterson and all other New Jersey municipalities.
For in-person searches, visit the clerk office at the Paterson Municipal Court or the Passaic County Superior Court. Staff can look up cases by name or docket number and provide copies. Certified copies from the Superior Court cost $5.00 for the first page and $0.50 per extra page, plus a $25.00 certification fee per document.
Note: Online case search results for Paterson show basic data only; full documents require a visit or written request.
Paterson Police Criminal Records
The Paterson Police Department shares a building with the municipal court at 111 Broadway. The Records Division is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Call (973) 321-1111 for questions. You must go in person with a valid photo ID to request police reports tied to criminal court records in Paterson.
Report fees are standard across New Jersey. Incident reports cost $5.00 for the first five pages and $0.05 per added page. Accident reports are $5.00 each. Certified copies add $5.00 more. Pay with cash, money order, or certified check made out to "City of Paterson." Processing takes five to ten business days. Accident reports may be available online through CrashDocs.org as well.
Paterson police also provide local background checks. A "certificate of good conduct" shows if you have warrants or pending criminal matters in Paterson. It costs $10.00 and requires in-person appearance with photo ID and proof of residency. For statewide criminal history, apply through the New Jersey State Police.
Passaic County Criminal Court
The Passaic County Superior Court, Criminal Division, is at the Passaic County Courthouse, 77 Hamilton Street, Paterson, NJ 07505. This court handles all indictable offenses from Paterson and the rest of Passaic County. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Call (973) 653-2900 for general questions about criminal court records in Paterson and Passaic County. Indictable crimes include aggravated assault, burglary, robbery, drug distribution, and weapons offenses.
The Passaic County Prosecutor's Office at 401 Grand Street, Paterson, reviews all arrests from Paterson police. The office presents cases to the grand jury and prosecutes felonies in Superior Court. Call (973) 881-2200 for information. The Prosecutor's Office has units for homicide, special victims, domestic violence, economic crimes, gangs, and narcotics. The Victim/Witness Unit assists crime victims with court notification and crisis support.
Cases move from Paterson Municipal Court to the Superior Court after the complaint is signed and the prosecutor reviews the charges. The Criminal Division Manager coordinates case flow, discovery compliance, and scheduling. Public access terminals in the courthouse lobby let you search Paterson criminal court records by name or docket number. Pre-trial conferences, plea negotiations, and case resolution conferences help move cases toward resolution.
Paterson Court Records via OPRA
Under OPRA (N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1), you can request criminal court records from Paterson through the City Clerk. Submit your request in person at City Hall, 155 Market Street, Room 109, Paterson, NJ 07505. You can also email cityclerk@patersonnj.gov or use the online OPRA portal. The City Clerk's Office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Call (973) 321-1320 for questions about OPRA requests for criminal court records in Paterson.
Copies cost $0.05 per letter page and $0.07 per legal page. Requests that need a lot of research may carry extra charges. Paterson has seven business days to respond. Complex requests may get an extension of up to seven more business days with written notice. Include case numbers, dates, and names in your request for faster processing of Paterson criminal court records.
Paterson Criminal Diversion Options
First-time offenders in Paterson may qualify for diversion programs that can lead to dismissed charges. At the municipal court level, Conditional Discharge under N.J.S.A. 2C:36A-1 covers certain drug offenses. Conditional Dismissal under N.J.S.A. 2C:43-13.1 applies to some disorderly persons and petty disorderly persons offenses. Program fees range from $75 to $83. Successful completion means the charges are dropped, and the criminal court records in Paterson reflect a dismissal.
For felony cases at the Passaic County Superior Court, the Prosecutor's Office runs the Pre-Trial Intervention program. PTI is for first-time offenders charged with non-violent indictable crimes. You apply through your defense attorney. There is an application fee and an interview with PTI staff. If you complete all conditions, your charges are dismissed. This directly affects what shows in the criminal court records for Paterson cases at the county level.
Note: Defendants in Paterson should ask their attorney about all available diversion programs before entering a plea.
Pay Paterson Court Fines
Pay eligible Paterson tickets online through NJMCDirect. You need your court ID, ticket number, and plate number. The system takes Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover cards. A service fee of two to three percent applies to all online payments.
In-person payments at the Paterson Municipal Court accept cash, money orders, certified checks, and major credit cards. Personal checks are not taken. Mail payments to Paterson Municipal Court, 111 Broadway, Paterson, NJ 07505. For payment plans, you must appear before a judge and show financial hardship. The court sets a schedule based on your ability to pay. All payments become part of the criminal court records for your case in Paterson.
Passaic County Criminal Court Records
Paterson is the county seat of Passaic County. All indictable criminal cases from Paterson are handled by the Passaic County Superior Court. The county court serves all municipalities in Passaic County. For broader information on the county court system and criminal court records access, visit the Passaic County page.