New Jersey Arrest Records

A New Jersey arrest record provides information about an individual's arrest and consequent prosecution. They are generated by local law enforcement and the New Jersey State Police (NJSP), Identification & Information Technology Section and managed by the State Bureau of Identification (SBI).

While arrest records provide information about offenses an individual was alleged to have committed, these documents are not proof of guilt, blame, or innocence. They only indicate that an individual was brought in for questioning and processed for booking.

New Jersey arrest records typically feature the following:

• **Offender's Information: **Including their name, age, race and ethnicity, height, mugshot photograph, eye color, hair color, and other physical characteristics;
• Crime Information: The nature of the crime, if there were any victims involved, names of the victims, time and location of the crime, consequent charges, and related information;
• **Law Enforcement Information: **The names of the arresting officer, name of the arresting agency, arrest location, address of the detention center, whether the arrest was with or without a warrant, and so on.

Are Arrest Records Public in New Jersey?

Yes. However, criminal records (in which arrest records are contained) are not open to the general public and are only accessible to authorized persons and agencies. Authorized persons include an employer or prospective employer (NJAC 13:59-1.2(a)), a licensed attorney (NJAC 13:59-1.2(a)), a licensed private detective (NJSA 45:19-8 et seq), and law enforcement or court officials, or the record's subject, may request a person's criminal IA-1 et seq. This exemption is governed by New Jersey Executive Order Number 123 (1985) and its successor, Executive Order Number 69 (1997).

Notwithstanding, many local law agencies make arrest records and arrest information publicly available on their site or a dedicated web page.

Other exceptions to accessing New Jersey arrest records are when a record is sealed or expunged. Some reasons an arrest record may be sealed include:

• If it might interfere with an ongoing investigation;
• If the record involves a juvenile offender;
• If there are public safety concerns;
• The record contains inaccurate information.

How Do I Look Up Arrest Records in New Jersey?

To lookup arrest records in New Jersey, inquirers must identify the agency that handled the arrest. The following are the processes for finding arrest records depending on the arresting agency:

Local Law Enforcement:

• Online: If a county law enforcement officer made the arrest, visit the County's inmate locator and enter the inmate's identifying parameters, such as their name, date of birth, booking number, and any other required information.
• In-Person: Inquirers may visit the law enforcement agency to determine the requirements for inspecting or obtaining copies of arrest records.

State Level:

• PROMIS/Gavel Website: To look up New Jersey arrest records through the PROMIS/Gavel website, users must furnish the search tool with information to facilitate the search. This information includes their first and last names or indictment numbers and County. Only defendants convicted and sentenced in the superior courts will be displayed in search results.

• NJ Courts: The NJ courts website provides information on all judgments and convictions on criminal cases pertaining to the state. Visit the NJ Courts website, accept the terms, and choose a county to search. Then, select the search terms (case defendant number, indictment-accusation number, State Identification Bureau number, CDR number, or defendant names). Requests may be submitted using the SBI 212B Form.

• New Jersey Criminal History Records Information: For employment, licensing, and the procurement of services, an authorized person may submit a CHRI request by filling out the prescribed form. Attorneys-at-law who require records from the CHRI may need a lawfully issued subpoena.

  First, the requester must complete an online form, schedule a fingerprint scanning appointment at an approved location, and pay a fingerprinting fee of $45.73, of which $15.73 is for the vendor fee and associated state sales tax.

Federal Level: A New Jersey resident who wishes to search arrest records (within criminal records) on a national level must submit a written request to the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services Division. FBI arrest records are only accessible to the subject of the record and cost $18.

Free Arrest Record Search in New Jersey

Many New Jersey local law enforcement agencies provide official online portals through the county office, local police department, or the sheriff's office, where interested persons may find arrest records for free. By supplying the arrestee's name, booking ID, and other required information, searchers may find information on individuals arrested by the local agency. Also, the NJ COurts portal lets users search county criminal records for free. Furthermore, some third-party websites let users search their criminal arrest records for free. However, obtaining state police fingerprint-based reports attracts a fee in New Jersey.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record in New Jersey?

Under New Jersey's "Clean Slate Law," if a person completes their sentence and settles all their legal obligations, including payment of fines, the New Jersey Courts may automatically expunge the person's entire arrest and conviction records.

To be eligible, the individual must have lived a crime-free life for at least 10 years since the completion of their last sentence. However, felony offenses like sex crimes, homicide, arson, robbery, manufacture or distribution of controlled dangerous substances, perjury, and bribery remain ineligible for expungement.

How to Seal Arrest Record in New Jersey

New Jersey residents seeking to have criminal or arrest history removed from public view in must file for expungement or meet the requirements for automatic expungement under the clean slate law.

To file for expungement,

• Check that all eligibility criteria are met;
• Request a copy of the criminal records (For juvenile cases, contact the court to get the docket number);
• Prepare a petition for expungement either through an attorney or without an attorney;
• File and serve the petition;
• Attend the hearing.

Record expungement petitions may be filed physically or electronically with the New Jersey Court where the case was heard. Often, the petitioner must wait 5 years after serving their sentence before applying for expungement. After registration, follow the user guide to file an expungement petition. Once a court approves the expungement request, the petitioner's records will be removed and no longer publicly accessible.