Cumberland County Criminal Court Records
Cumberland County criminal court records are maintained at the Superior Court in Bridgeton, New Jersey. This southern New Jersey county has a population of about 154,000 and includes 14 municipalities. The Criminal Division handles all indictable offenses that arise within Cumberland County. Residents and the public can search criminal court records through state online portals or visit the courthouse in Bridgeton. Cumberland County is part of the Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem Vicinage, which means these three counties share certain court administrative services while keeping separate courthouses.
Cumberland County Quick Facts
Cumberland County Superior Court Criminal Division
The Cumberland County Superior Court is at 60 West Broad Street in Bridgeton. The Criminal Division handles all serious crimes in the county. These include drug distribution, weapons offenses, assault, robbery, burglary, and other indictable crimes. The division manages cases from arrest through sentencing and keeps all related court records.
Cumberland County shares a vicinage with Gloucester and Salem counties. This means some administrative resources are shared across the three counties. However, each county has its own courthouse and its own records. Criminal cases that occur in Cumberland County are filed and heard in Bridgeton, not in Woodbury or Salem. The Criminal Division Records Room in Bridgeton is where you go to find Cumberland County criminal court records.
The Cumberland County court page on njcourts.gov lists current contact details and hours for all court divisions. The Criminal Division Records office can be reached at 856-878-5050, extension 15780.
The NJ Courts page for Cumberland County shown above has the latest details on court hours, phone numbers, and office locations for the Criminal Division.
| Court |
Cumberland County Superior Court Criminal Division 60 West Broad Street Bridgeton, NJ 08302 Phone: (856) 878-5050 ext. 15780 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | njcourts.gov - Cumberland/Gloucester/Salem Vicinage |
How to Search Cumberland County Criminal Records
You can find criminal court records in Cumberland County through online tools, in-person visits, or written requests. Each method has its strengths. Online searches are fastest for basic case data. In-person trips let you see the whole file. Mail requests work when you cannot visit Bridgeton.
The NJ Courts public access portal provides free online case searches. Select Cumberland County and enter a defendant name or docket number. The system shows charges, case status, and court dates. It does not display full documents. For copies of actual case files from Cumberland County, contact the Criminal Division Records Room.
Use the PROMIS/Gavel system for criminal conviction data. This tool tracks indictable cases from arrest through appeal. Only defendants with convictions and sentences appear. Search by name or indictment number. It is free to use and available at all hours.
For in-person requests at the Cumberland County courthouse, bring your photo ID to the Criminal Division Records Room. Complete a request form. Staff can look up cases by defendant name, docket number, or complaint number. You can view records at no charge during business hours. Copies are $0.05 per page for letter size and $0.07 for legal size. Certified copies cost $15 per document.
The Cumberland/Gloucester/Salem Vicinage page shown above provides contact information for the shared vicinage that serves Cumberland County.
Note: The Ombudsman Office for the vicinage is located at the Cumberland County Courthouse and can be reached at 856-878-5050 ext. 15159 for help navigating the court system.
Cumberland County Criminal Records and Public Access
Criminal court records in Cumberland County are generally open to the public. The New Jersey Open Public Records Act at N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 and Court Rule 1:38 both establish public access rights. You can inspect criminal case files at the courthouse during regular business hours. No fee is charged for viewing records. You do not need to state a reason for your request.
Certain records are restricted. Juvenile records are sealed under N.J.S.A. 2A:4A-60. Expunged records are removed from public view per N.J.S.A. 2C:52-1. Records sealed by court order, grand jury proceedings, and documents containing personal identifiers such as Social Security numbers are not available. Criminal investigation files held by the Cumberland County Prosecutor may be exempt while cases remain open.
To file a formal records request, use the NJ Courts Records Request Form. You can submit it in person, by mail, or through the Judiciary Electronic Document Submission system. The court responds within seven business days. For records held by the Cumberland County Prosecutor or other county agencies, submit an OPRA request directly to that office.
Cumberland County Court Record Fees
The fee schedule for court records in Cumberland County follows the standard state rates. All New Jersey counties charge the same prices for copies of court documents.
Key fees include:
- Letter-size page copies: $0.05 each
- Legal-size page copies: $0.07 each
- Certified copy: $15 per document
- Court seal: $10 per document
- Exemplified copy: $50 plus copy fees
Payment for in-person requests can be made by cash. For mail requests, include a check or money order payable to "Treasurer, State of New Jersey." Send it with the completed Records Request Form and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Allow about 7 to 10 business days for the Cumberland County courthouse to process your request.
Expungement of Cumberland County Criminal Records
Cumberland County residents with eligible criminal records can petition for expungement. This legal process removes the record from public access. The rules are in N.J.S.A. 2C:52-1 through 2C:52-32. File the petition with the Superior Court in Bridgeton. The fee is $75.
You must serve the petition on the Cumberland County Prosecutor, the police department that made the arrest, the New Jersey State Police, and the Attorney General. After all parties respond, the court sets a hearing date. If the judge grants the petition, the criminal record is sealed from public view. Waiting periods apply based on the type of offense. For most indictable crimes, the wait is five years after completing the sentence. The 2019 Clean Slate law expanded eligibility for certain offenses.
The NJ Courts Self-Help Center provides free expungement forms and detailed instructions. Legal Services of New Jersey offers free help to income-eligible Cumberland County residents through the LSNJLAWSM hotline at (888) 576-5529.
For additional details on finding and requesting various types of court documents in Cumberland County, visit the Criminal Division Records Room listing on the NJ Courts website or contact the Bridgeton courthouse directly.
Cumberland County Municipal Court Records
Cumberland County's 14 municipalities each have a municipal court or share court services with a nearby town. Municipal courts handle disorderly persons offenses, petty disorderly persons offenses, traffic matters, and local ordinance violations. The maximum jail sentence from a municipal court is six months. These records are maintained at the individual municipal court, not at the Superior Court in Bridgeton.
Search Cumberland County municipal court records through the Municipal Court Case Search portal. You need a ticket number, complaint number, or defendant name. The system shows case status, court dates, and fine amounts. For copies of specific documents, contact the municipal court where the case was heard. Vineland, Millville, and Bridgeton operate the three largest municipal courts in Cumberland County.
Note: Appeals from Cumberland County municipal courts go to the Superior Court Law Division and are heard as new trials.
Statewide Resources for Criminal Records
For criminal history that goes beyond Cumberland County court records, the New Jersey State Police maintain the official statewide database. A fingerprint-based personal record check costs $41. Schedule fingerprinting through IdentoGO, an authorized vendor. Results come by mail. Contact the Criminal Information Unit at (609) 882-2000, extension 2918, with questions.
The NJ Government Records Council handles complaints about denied records requests. If a Cumberland County agency denies your OPRA request, you can file a free complaint with the GRC. They investigate and can order the agency to release records. The GRC toll-free number is (866) 850-0511.
The Government Records Council website shown above provides guidance on filing complaints and understanding your rights under OPRA for Cumberland County records requests.
Cities in Cumberland County
Cumberland County's 14 municipalities all send their indictable criminal cases to the Superior Court in Bridgeton.
Other municipalities in Cumberland County include Commercial Township, Deerfield Township, Downe Township, Fairfield Township, Greenwich Township, Hopewell Township, Lawrence Township, Maurice River Township, Shiloh, Stow Creek Township, and Upper Deerfield Township.
Nearby Counties
These counties are near Cumberland County. The Criminal Division handles cases from where the offense happened, so confirm the right county before searching.