Atlantic County Criminal Court Records
Atlantic County criminal court records are held at the Superior Court in Mays Landing, New Jersey. This coastal county is home to Atlantic City and has a population of roughly 274,000 residents. The Criminal Division of the Superior Court handles all indictable offenses filed in Atlantic County. Residents and the public can search criminal court records through online portals or visit the courthouse in person. The county seat is Mays Landing, where the main court complex serves all towns and cities in Atlantic County. Staff at the Criminal Division Records Room can help locate case files by name or docket number.
Atlantic County Quick Facts
Atlantic County Superior Court Criminal Division
The Atlantic County Superior Court handles all criminal matters for the county. This includes indictable offenses such as assault, robbery, drug charges, and weapons crimes. The Criminal Division is part of the Atlantic County Justice Facility in Mays Landing. Court staff process new filings and maintain records of past cases. They can search for records by defendant name, docket number, or complaint number. The office is open on weekdays during standard business hours.
Atlantic County is part of its own vicinage within the New Jersey court system. The court serves all 23 municipalities in Atlantic County, from Atlantic City to Hammonton to Egg Harbor Township. All indictable criminal cases from local police departments are sent to the Superior Court in Mays Landing for prosecution. Municipal courts in Atlantic County handle lesser offenses like disorderly persons charges and traffic violations. If you need records from a municipal court case, contact that specific court. For serious criminal court records in Atlantic County, the Superior Court Criminal Division is the right place to start.
The Atlantic County Superior Court page on njcourts.gov provides the latest contact details and court hours for the Criminal Division.
| Court |
Atlantic County Superior Court Criminal Division 1201 Bacharach Boulevard Mays Landing, NJ 08330 Phone: (609) 402-0100 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | njcourts.gov/courts/atlantic |
How to Search Atlantic County Criminal Records
There are several ways to find criminal court records in Atlantic County. The method you pick depends on what you need. A basic case search works well for checking a case status. Getting certified copies requires a visit or a written request. Both paths lead to the same set of public records kept by the court in Atlantic County.
The NJ Courts Find a Case portal lets you search criminal cases online at no cost. You can look up cases by party name or docket number. This covers Superior Court criminal cases across all New Jersey counties, including Atlantic County. The system shows basic case data like charges, court dates, and case status. It does not show full documents. For actual copies of filings, you must contact the court directly.
The PROMIS/Gavel Public Access system is another online tool. It tracks indictable criminal cases from arrest through sentencing. Only cases with convictions and sentences in Superior Court appear in search results. This protects the privacy of people whose cases were dismissed or who were found not guilty. You can search by defendant name or indictment number in Atlantic County.
To search criminal court records in Atlantic County in person, go to the Criminal Division Records Room at the courthouse in Mays Landing. Bring a valid photo ID. Fill out a records request form at the counter. Staff will search by name or case number. You will pay $0.05 per page for letter-size copies and $0.07 per page for legal-size copies. Certified copies cost $15 each.
Note: Court staff can help with procedures but cannot give legal advice about Atlantic County criminal cases.
Atlantic County Criminal Court Records and OPRA
The New Jersey Open Public Records Act, known as OPRA, gives the public the right to access government records. This law is found at N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1. It applies to criminal court records in Atlantic County. Most adult criminal case files are public. Anyone can ask to see them. You do not need to be a party in the case.
Some records are not public. Juvenile cases stay sealed under N.J.S.A. 2A:4A-60. Expunged records are removed from public view per N.J.S.A. 2C:52-1. Cases sealed by a judge are also off limits. Grand jury proceedings and records with personal identifiers like Social Security numbers are restricted too. Everything else in an Atlantic County criminal court file is generally open to the public.
You can file an OPRA request for criminal court records in Atlantic County. Put your request in writing. Include the defendant name, case number if you have it, and the records you need. Submit it to the court or use the NJ OPRA Request Portal for a guided process. The court has seven business days to respond. Fees for copies follow the standard state schedule.
What Atlantic County Court Records Include
Criminal court records in Atlantic County contain many types of documents. Each file tells the story of a case from start to finish. The complaint or indictment is the first document. It lists the charges against the defendant. The arraignment record shows the initial plea. Motions, orders, and hearing transcripts follow as the case moves through the system.
A typical criminal court record in Atlantic County may include:
- Indictment or criminal complaint with charges
- Bail and pretrial detention orders
- Plea agreements and change of plea forms
- Sentencing orders and judgments of conviction
- Probation conditions and court-ordered programs
The final judgment of conviction is the document most people need from Atlantic County. It shows the charges, the plea or verdict, and the sentence. Certified copies of this document are often required for legal matters. You can get certified copies from the Criminal Division clerk in Mays Landing. The fee is $15 for a certified copy plus $10 for the court seal if needed. An exemplified copy costs $50 plus standard copy fees.
For additional details on how to find and request specific types of court documents in Atlantic County, visit the Criminal Division Records Room listing on the NJ Courts website.
Criminal Record Expungement in Atlantic County
New Jersey law allows certain criminal records to be expunged. Expungement means the record is removed from public access. It is as if the arrest or conviction never happened. The rules for expungement are found in N.J.S.A. 2C:52-1 through 2C:52-32. Atlantic County residents who qualify can file a petition with the Superior Court.
The filing fee for an expungement petition is $75. You file it with the Criminal Division in Mays Landing. The petition must be served on the Atlantic County Prosecutor, the relevant police department, and the New Jersey State Police. There is a waiting period after your sentence is complete. For indictable offenses, you must wait at least five years after completing your sentence, probation, parole, or paying fines. Some drug offenses may qualify for early expungement under the "Clean Slate" law passed in 2019.
Not all crimes can be expunged. Serious violent offenses and certain sex crimes are not eligible. The NJ Courts Self-Help Center has free expungement forms and step-by-step instructions. Legal aid organizations in Atlantic County can also help with the process at no cost for those who qualify.
Note: Once expunged, Atlantic County criminal court records will no longer appear in public searches or background checks.
Atlantic County Municipal Court Records
Atlantic County has 23 municipalities. Each one operates a municipal court or shares court services with a nearby town. Municipal courts handle disorderly persons offenses, petty disorderly persons offenses, traffic violations, and local ordinance matters. These are less serious than indictable crimes. Municipal court judges cannot sentence someone to more than six months in jail.
Municipal court records in Atlantic County are separate from Superior Court criminal records. To find a municipal court case, use the Municipal Court Case Search portal. You will need the ticket number, complaint number, or defendant name. The system shows case status, court dates, and fine amounts. For copies of actual documents from a municipal court in Atlantic County, contact that specific court office.
If a defendant is found guilty in municipal court, they can appeal to the Superior Court within 20 days. The appeal goes to the Law Division. It is heard as a new trial, called a "de novo" hearing. The Superior Court does not look at what the municipal court decided. It starts fresh. Records from these appeals are kept at the Superior Court in Mays Landing.
Statewide Criminal Records for Atlantic County
The New Jersey State Police maintain the official statewide criminal history database. This is different from court records. A criminal history check through the State Police shows arrests and convictions from all New Jersey counties, not just Atlantic County. To get a personal criminal history record, you must submit fingerprints through an approved vendor like IdentoGO. The fee is $41 for a personal record check. Results come by mail within a few weeks.
The Criminal Division Records Room listing on the NJ Courts website shows contact information for every county in New Jersey. This is helpful if you need criminal court records from Atlantic County along with records from other counties. Each county has its own Records Room at the courthouse.
The Criminal Division Records Room listing shows contact details for every county in the state, including Atlantic County.
Legal Help in Atlantic County
Several groups offer legal help to Atlantic County residents. South Jersey Legal Services provides free legal assistance to low-income individuals. They handle many types of cases and can assist with understanding criminal court records. The office serves Atlantic County along with neighboring counties. Call the LSNJLAWSM hotline at (888) 576-5529 to ask about available services.
The NJ Courts Self-Help Center has forms and instructions for people without attorneys. This includes expungement petitions, records request forms, and other court documents. The Atlantic County Law Library, located in the courthouse, provides free access to legal research materials during business hours. The New Jersey State Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service at 1-800-792-8315 and can match you with an attorney in Atlantic County.
Cities in Atlantic County
Atlantic County includes 23 municipalities. All indictable criminal cases from these towns are filed at the Superior Court Criminal Division in Mays Landing. Municipal courts in each town handle lesser offenses.
Other municipalities in Atlantic County include Absecon, Brigantine, Buena, Buena Vista Township, Corbin City, Egg Harbor City, Estell Manor, Folsom, Hamilton Township, Linwood, Longport, Margate City, Mullica Township, Northfield, Port Republic, Somers Point, Ventnor City, and Weymouth Township.
Nearby Counties
These counties are near Atlantic County. If you are unsure which county handles your criminal case, check where the offense occurred. The case is filed in the county where the crime took place.