Camden County Criminal Court Records

Camden County criminal court records are kept at the Hall of Justice in the city of Camden, New Jersey. The county has a population of about 523,000 and includes 37 municipalities. All indictable criminal offenses in Camden County are handled by the Superior Court Criminal Division. The public can access criminal court records through online state portals or by visiting the courthouse. Camden County is across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, and the county seat of Camden is where all serious criminal proceedings take place. Court staff at the Criminal Division Records Room assist with locating case files and processing record requests.

Camden County Superior Court Criminal Division

The Camden County Superior Court operates from the Hall of Justice at 101 South 5th Street in the city of Camden. The Criminal Division handles all indictable offenses, which are crimes that can result in state prison time. These include drug crimes, assaults, burglaries, robberies, and weapons charges. First through fourth degree crimes all go through this court.

Camden County is its own vicinage in the state court system. The 37 municipalities in the county send all their indictable cases to the Superior Court in Camden. Towns like Cherry Hill, Gloucester Township, Winslow Township, Pennsauken, and Voorhees all fall under this court's jurisdiction for serious crimes. Local municipal courts in Camden County handle lesser charges like disorderly persons offenses, traffic tickets, and local ordinance matters.

The Camden County Prosecutor's Office works closely with the Criminal Division. Prosecutors review arrests from every police department in the county and present cases to the grand jury. The Prosecutor's Office is a key source of records for active criminal investigations in Camden County.

How to Find Camden County Criminal Records

There are multiple ways to search for criminal court records in Camden County. Online tools give you fast results for basic case data. Visiting the courthouse in person provides the most complete access. You can also request records by mail or through the court's electronic submission system.

The NJ Courts Find a Case portal is a free online search tool. Enter a defendant name or docket number and select Camden County. The results show charges, case status, court dates, and final outcomes. This portal covers all Superior Court cases in New Jersey. It does not show full documents, so you will need to contact the court for actual copies of Camden County criminal records.

Use the PROMIS/Gavel Public Access system for criminal conviction records. This database only shows defendants who were convicted and sentenced in Superior Court. It does not include dismissed cases or acquittals. Search by defendant name or indictment number for Camden County results.

At the courthouse, visit the Criminal Division Records Room in the Hall of Justice. Bring a valid ID. Complete the records request form. Staff will search by name or case number. View records at no charge. Copies cost $0.05 per page. Certified copies cost $15 each. You can pay by cash in person or by check and money order for mail requests.

For detailed instructions on searching and obtaining court records in Camden County, visit the Criminal Division Records Room listing on the NJ Courts website or contact the Hall of Justice directly.

Camden County Criminal Records Public Access

Most criminal court records in Camden County are public. This right is established by the New Jersey Open Public Records Act at N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 and by Court Rule 1:38. Any person can inspect criminal case files at the courthouse during business hours. You do not need to explain why you want the records.

Some records are restricted from public access. These include:

• Juvenile records sealed under N.J.S.A. 2A:4A-60
• Expunged records per N.J.S.A. 2C:52-1
• Records sealed by court order
• Grand jury proceedings and materials
• Documents with Social Security numbers or bank accounts
• Active criminal investigation files

Daniel's Law, signed in November 2020, protects personal information of judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement officers in public records. Under this law, personal addresses and other identifying details of covered individuals are redacted from Camden County court records before release to the public.

Note: Court staff at the Camden County Criminal Division can help you understand which records are available and which are restricted.

Camden County Criminal Court Record Fees

Camden County uses the standard New Jersey fee schedule for court record copies. Fees are set by state rule and are the same in every county. Knowing these fees helps you prepare before requesting records.

Standard page copies at the Camden County courthouse cost $0.05 per letter-size page and $0.07 per legal-size page. A certified copy of any document costs $15. Adding the court seal costs $10. An exemplified copy, which is the highest level of certification, costs $50 plus regular copy fees. Triple exemplification costs $60. Inspection of records in person is free. You only pay when you need copies.

For mail requests, include a check or money order made out to "Treasurer, State of New Jersey." Send it with your completed Records Request Form to the Criminal Division Records Room. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return of documents. Processing takes about 7 to 10 business days for Camden County requests.

Expungement of Camden County Criminal Records

Camden County residents with eligible criminal records can petition the court for expungement. This process removes the record from public access. New Jersey's expungement law is found at N.J.S.A. 2C:52-1 through 2C:52-32. The petition is filed with the Superior Court in Camden.

The filing fee is $75. You must serve the petition on the Camden County Prosecutor's Office, the arresting police agency, the New Jersey State Police, and the Attorney General. A waiting period applies after you complete your sentence. Most indictable offenses require a five-year wait. Some drug offenses may qualify sooner under the Clean Slate law. Disorderly persons offenses have shorter waiting periods. Not all crimes are eligible for expungement. Serious violent crimes and certain sex offenses cannot be expunged.

The NJ Courts Self-Help Center provides free expungement forms and detailed instructions. Legal aid organizations in Camden County can assist with the process for qualifying residents at no charge.

The NJ OPRA Request Portal shown above helps residents submit properly formatted public records requests to any New Jersey government agency, including Camden County offices.

Municipal Courts in Camden County

Each of Camden County's 37 municipalities has a municipal court. Some towns share court services with neighboring communities. Municipal courts handle disorderly persons offenses, traffic violations, and local ordinance matters. The maximum sentence a municipal court judge can impose is six months in jail.

Municipal court records in Camden County are maintained at the individual court, not at the Superior Court. Use the Municipal Court Case Search to look up cases by ticket number, complaint number, or name. The system shows case status and court dates. For document copies, contact the specific municipal court office.

Appeals from municipal court convictions go to the Superior Court Law Division. The appeal must be filed within 20 days of conviction. It is heard as a brand new trial. The Superior Court judge does not consider what the municipal court decided. Records from these de novo appeals are stored at the Superior Court in Camden.

Note: The Camden County Municipal Court in the city of Camden is one of the busiest in South Jersey, handling thousands of cases each year.

Cities in Camden County

Camden County's 37 municipalities all send their indictable criminal cases to the Superior Court in the city of Camden.

Other municipalities include Bellmawr, Berlin, Brooklawn, Chesilhurst, Clementon, Collingswood, Gibbsboro, Haddon Heights, Haddonfield, Hi-Nella, Laurel Springs, Lindenwold, Magnolia, Merchantville, Oaklyn, Pine Hill, Runnemede, Somerdale, Stratford, Waterford, and Woodlynne.

Nearby Counties

Camden County shares borders with several counties. Cases are filed where the crime occurred, not where the defendant lives.