New Jersey Criminal Records

Individuals obtain New Jersey criminal records when arrested and convicted of breaking the law. These records chronicle an individual's dealings with the justice system from arrest to conviction.

New Jersey arrest records are crucial to law enforcement agencies, courts, policymakers, and members of the public. Investigators can refer to crime records to solve active cases. An individual's history can inform a judge's sentencing decision. Policymakers can also use crime trends data to strengthen criminal justice laws.

Members of the public can use crime data to better understand their environment's safety status. Employers and financial institutions also perform background checks when reviewing job and loan applications.

Interested persons seeking comprehensive criminal background information or New Jersey criminal records may query the New Jersey State Police.

Are Criminal Records Public in New Jersey?

No, criminal records are only accessible to people with statutory permissions. They include:

• Attorneys with valid licenses from any state who can provide subpoenas for the record per N.J.A.C. 13:59-1.2(a)3;
• People and nongovernmental organizations who intend to employ an individual are authorized by N.J.A.C. 13:59-1.2(a)2 to obtain criminal background information on the individual;
• Private detectives licensed by the New Jersey State Police have permission in 13:59-1.2(a)4 to obtain criminal records;
• Federal and state government entities can obtain New Jersey criminal records for official government business.

New Jersey Crime Records by County

New Jersey crime records primarily originate from the city or county law enforcement agencies. Police departments and Sheriff's Offices are responsible for booking individuals arrested on suspicion of criminal violations. Information such as the crime committed, charges, biodata, and date are generated and logged during this stage. This data is then reported to the New Jersey State Police through its Uniform Crime Reporting Units (Compliance and Analytical). The Compliance Unit ensures that data from every law enforcement agency in the state is collated correctly. The Analytical Unit assesses the data and prepares the annual reports published on the U.C.R. website.

New Jersey Criminal Record Check

Before finding New Jersey criminal records, individuals must know the type of records being sought and if they are qualified to use a specific search process. While some search resources are open to members of the public, other criminal background search processes are reserved for particular people and entities.

The following explains the different avenues available for checking criminal records in New Jersey:

The New Jersey Judiciary

Searchers can view and obtain criminal case records through the New Jersey Judiciary. They can request copies of court records by filling out an online form and submitting it through the Judiciary Electronic Document Submission (J.E.D.S.) portal. They can also visit the courthouse where the case was heard to view or obtain copies of criminal court records.

The Judiciary also offers the P.R.O.M.I.S./Gavel Public Access portal, where members of the public can view case files. It contains criminal records for individuals convicted and sentenced in the state's superior court system. Information retrieved from this online application is intended for public information and is not considered official.

The New Jersey State Police

The New Jersey State Police, through its Identification & Information Technology Section's State Bureau of Identification unit, is responsible for collating and disseminating criminal records using the Criminal History Record Information system. The agency provides complete criminal records, including charges of violations, pending arrests, and convictions, to eligible entities.

Inquirers can find and request criminal records using Non-criminal Justice Volunteer Background Checks, Name-Based Checks, Out-of-State Resident's Personal Record Requests, and New Jersey Residents' Record Request systems. The state police also runs the New Jersey sex offender registry, displaying people charged with various sex-related offenses.

The New Jersey Department of Corrections

The New Jersey Department of Corrections provides resources that allow members of the public to track individuals incarcerated in state prisons or currently on parole. Inquirers may use its Incarcerated Person Search Engine to look up individuals still serving time and on parole. The database does not contain information about ex-inmates who have completed their sentences and parole for over a year.

County and City Offices

Members of the public can request and obtain county or city-level arrest records from the county sheriff or city police department. For example, county sheriff's offices typically provide inmate search tools for looking up incarcerated individuals in county jails.

Find Criminal Records Online in New Jersey

The following are online resources for finding criminal records in New Jersey:

P.R.O.M.I.S./Gavel Public Access Portal: The New Jersey judicial system runs this statewide case records database. It displays information about people incarcerated through the state's superior courts.

Incarcerated Person Search Engine: The state DOC hosts a publicly searchable database showing details of inmates, parolees, and probationers in the department's jurisdiction. It does not contain information about individuals who completed their sentences and supervision over a year ago.

The New Jersey Sex Offender Registry: New Jersey Code at 2C:7-12 to -19 mandates the New Jersey State Police to operate an Internet-based sex offender registry to inform members of the public about people who have committed sexual offenses. The registry does not provide the full criminal backgrounds of listed individuals, especially if they have committed other crimes. Also, it does not include people who have committed sexual offenses but are deemed to have a low risk of re-offense.

Local Online Resources: Individual county and town governments often provide additional portals for localized records like arrest logs, police reports, and mugshots. These records are handled by local agencies, such as police departments and sheriff's offices.

Free Criminal Record Search in New Jersey

Persons seeking to use the Criminal History Record Information system or obtain copies of criminal records must pay the designated fees for each service.

However, specific resources allow people to view criminal information for free. These resources include:

• The New Jersey Sex Offender Internet Registry
• The New Jersey Department of Corrections Incarcerated Person Search Engine
• P.R.O.M.I.S./Gavel Public Access Portal
• Local inmate search online applications.

It is important to note that records available through most free online tools are not considered official records and are not legally admissible in court.

What Does it Mean if You Have a Criminal Record in New Jersey?

New Jersey criminal records have implications beyond an individual's jail sentence, probation, or fines.

They often make reentry into society difficult because ex-felons can be denied employment, aid, housing, and loans.

Most employers, financial institutions, and landlords run criminal background checks while considering applications. The individual will likely be denied if the results return with a criminal history.

Criminal records may also prevent an individual from securing a visa to a foreign country, as most governments deny entry to former convicted offenders.

Does Your Criminal Record Clear After 7 Years in New Jersey?

Criminal records can be automatically expunged in New Jersey, depending on the crime and situation.

However, N.J.S.A. 2C:52-5.3 allows for the expungement of entire criminal records if 10 years have passed since the individual completed their sentence, probation, or parole or paid their fine while staying crime-free.

According to N.J.S.A. 2C:52-6, courts can start an expungement process immediately after a defendant is acquitted on all counts or a case is dismissed. Arrests without charges and false imprisonment also qualify for automatic expungement in New Jersey.

People who complete a drug rehabilitation program can have their records expunged upon completion. Certain marijuana and hashish offenses can also be automatically removed.

In other situations, and depending on the offense, individuals must apply for their expungement four to five years after completing their sentence. They can apply through the eCourts Expungement System, which is free.

Arrest Record Vs Criminal Record

Arrest records contain information about an individual's apprehension and detention before arraignment. Criminal records, on the other hand, contain details about an individual's arrest, court proceedings, conviction, and sentencing.

Arrests that do not lead to charges or convictions in New Jersey can be automatically expunged and do not stay on the individual's record. However, criminal records stay with individuals years after they pay their fines and complete their sentences, probation, or parole. As mentioned earlier, these records can prevent them from securing certain jobs, loans, and even visas.

New Jersey Police Records

New Jersey police records are information generated up to the point of arrest and detention. They typically include investigative reports, booking data, and detention details. They are not considered general criminal records as they do not include court proceedings and sentencing information.