Bergen County Criminal Court Records
Bergen County criminal court records are maintained at the Superior Court in Hackensack, New Jersey. As the most populous county in the state with over 955,000 residents, Bergen County processes a large volume of criminal cases each year. The Criminal Division handles all indictable offenses from the county's 70 municipalities. You can search Bergen County criminal court records online through state court portals or request them in person at the courthouse. The county seat is Hackensack, and the Justice Center there serves as the main facility for criminal proceedings in Bergen County.
Bergen County Quick Facts
Bergen County Criminal Division Court Office
The Bergen County Superior Court Criminal Division is located at the Justice Center in Hackensack. This court handles all indictable criminal offenses that occur within Bergen County. Indictable offenses are the New Jersey equivalent of felonies. They include crimes like aggravated assault, burglary, drug distribution, robbery, and weapons charges. The Criminal Division processes cases from arrest through sentencing and maintains all related court records.
Bergen County has 70 municipalities, more than any other county in New Jersey. All of them send their serious criminal cases to the Superior Court in Hackensack. The court complex also houses the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office, which handles all criminal prosecutions. Municipal courts across Bergen County deal with less serious matters like disorderly persons offenses, traffic tickets, and local ordinance violations. Those records are kept at the municipal level, not at the Superior Court.
The Bergen County court page on njcourts.gov has the most current information about court operations, hours, and contact numbers for the Criminal Division.
The Bergen County Superior Court website shown above is the official NJ Courts page with details on all court divisions, including the Criminal Division Records Room.
| Court |
Bergen County Superior Court Criminal Division 10 Main Street Hackensack, NJ 07601 Phone: (201) 221-0700 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | njcourts.gov/courts/bergen |
How to Search Bergen County Criminal Records
You can search for criminal court records in Bergen County online, by mail, or in person. The online option is fastest for basic case information. In-person visits give you access to the full case file. Mail requests work if you cannot visit the courthouse in Hackensack.
The NJ Courts public access portal lets you search criminal cases by name or docket number. Select Bergen County from the dropdown to narrow your results. The system shows charges, court dates, and case outcomes. It is free to use. However, it does not display actual documents. For copies of indictments, plea agreements, or sentencing orders from Bergen County, you need to contact the court.
For in-person searches, visit the Criminal Division Records Room at the Bergen County Justice Center. Bring your photo ID. Complete a records request form. You can search by defendant name, case number, or complaint number. Standard copy fees apply at $0.05 per page for letter size and $0.07 for legal size. A certified copy of any document costs $15. Placing the court seal on a copy costs an additional $10.
You can also submit a written request by mail. Download the Records Request Form from the NJ Courts website. Fill it out and mail it to the Criminal Division with a check or money order payable to "Treasurer, State of New Jersey." Include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Allow 7 to 10 business days for processing. You can also submit the form through the Judiciary Electronic Document Submission system, known as JEDS.
Note: Bergen County criminal court records are also searchable through the PROMIS/Gavel system, but only convicted and sentenced defendants appear in results.
Bergen County Criminal Record Copy Fees
Bergen County follows the standard New Jersey fee schedule for court record copies. These fees are set by state rule and apply to all counties. Knowing the fees ahead of time helps you plan your visit or prepare your mail request.
The main fees for Bergen County criminal court records are:
- Letter-size copies: $0.05 per page
- Legal-size copies: $0.07 per page
- Certified copy: $15 per document
- Court seal: $10 per document
- Exemplified copy: $50 plus copy fees
- Triple exemplified copy: $60
Payment at the Bergen County courthouse can be made by cash for in-person visits, or by check and money order for mail requests. Make payments out to "Treasurer, State of New Jersey." The Records Room staff can tell you the exact cost once they locate your file. Large files with many pages will cost more than small ones. If you need multiple certified copies, each one costs $15.
Public Access to Bergen County Criminal Court Records
Criminal court records in Bergen County are generally public under New Jersey law. The Open Public Records Act at N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 and Court Rule 1:38 both support public access. Anyone can request to view or copy criminal case files. You do not need to be a party to the case. You do not need to state why you want the records.
Certain categories of records are restricted. Juvenile records are sealed under N.J.S.A. 2A:4A-60. Expunged records are removed from public access under N.J.S.A. 2C:52-1. Records sealed by court order, grand jury proceedings, and documents with personal identifiers like Social Security numbers are not available. Domestic violence records and mental health commitment records are also restricted. All other criminal court records in Bergen County are open for inspection at no charge during business hours.
The Bergen County Clerk's website above handles property and land records. For criminal court records, visit the Superior Court Criminal Division instead.
The Bergen County Prosecutor's Office also maintains records related to criminal investigations and prosecutions. For records held by the prosecutor, submit an OPRA request to their office. The prosecutor has seven business days to respond under OPRA. Some investigation records may be exempt from disclosure while cases are active.
Bergen County Criminal Case Process
Understanding how a criminal case moves through the Bergen County court system helps you know which records to look for. Each step creates documents that become part of the case file. The process starts with an arrest and ends with a final disposition.
When police in Bergen County make an arrest for an indictable offense, the case goes to the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office. The prosecutor reviews the evidence and decides whether to present the case to a grand jury. If the grand jury returns an indictment, the case is assigned a docket number and scheduled for arraignment. At arraignment, the defendant enters a plea. Most cases in Bergen County are resolved through plea negotiations rather than trial. The plea agreement becomes part of the court record.
If a case goes to trial in Bergen County, the trial record includes jury selection notes, witness lists, exhibits, and the verdict. After conviction, the sentencing hearing produces a judgment of conviction. This judgment lists the charges, the sentence, and any conditions like probation, fines, or restitution. The judgment of conviction is the most commonly requested document from Bergen County criminal court records. It is needed for appeals, post-conviction relief, and other legal proceedings.
Bergen County also offers diversion programs. The Pre-Trial Intervention program, or PTI, lets eligible first-time offenders avoid conviction by completing conditions. Drug Court and Mental Health Court provide treatment options. Records from these programs may have limited public access under court rules.
Note: The Bergen County Prosecutor's Office administers PTI applications through defense attorneys.
Statewide Criminal Record Resources
Beyond Bergen County court records, you may need statewide criminal history information. The New Jersey State Police maintain the official criminal history database at their State Bureau of Identification. A fingerprint-based check costs $41 for personal records. You must schedule fingerprinting through IdentoGO, an approved vendor. Results arrive by mail in about two to four weeks.
The NJ Government Records Council oversees OPRA compliance statewide. If your records request is denied by Bergen County or any other agency, you can file a complaint with the GRC. The process is free. The GRC investigates complaints and can order agencies to release records. You can also challenge a denial in Superior Court, though that option involves court fees.
The PROMIS/Gavel Public Access system shown above provides free online access to Bergen County criminal case data for convicted defendants.
Cities in Bergen County
Bergen County has 70 municipalities. All indictable criminal cases go to the Superior Court Criminal Division in Hackensack. Each town also has a municipal court for minor offenses.
Other municipalities include Teaneck, Englewood, Ridgewood, Lodi, Lyndhurst, Mahwah, Dumont, Cliffside Park, Palisades Park, Elmwood Park, Rutherford, and many more throughout Bergen County.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Bergen County. Criminal cases are filed in the county where the offense took place. Check the location of the incident to find the right court.