Search Free New Jersey Criminal Records & Arrest Records

Start your free search for New Jersey criminal records and arrest records through official agencies today.

Thanks to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and New Jersey’s Open Public Records Act (OPRA), New Jersey arrest records, criminal proceedings, probation and parole information, arrest warrants, prisoner details, and more are readily accessible if you know where to look.^{1, 2}

In an effort to promote transparency and save time, this guide contains everything you need to know to determine if someone has a criminal history of any sort or has been arrested in a county near you.

Written or authored by Attorney Robert Bailey Jr, who possesses a Juris Doctorate in Law from Widener University School of Law and is a Licensed Attorney.

Are Criminal Records & Arrest Records Available to the General Public in New Jersey?

As detailed in our New Jersey public records search guide, criminal, arrest, and other records are accessible to the public, and there are various ways to check if someone has been arrested or has a criminal history. In addition, state and local agencies have an online directory that serves as a people finder for individuals who have committed crimes in New Jersey — yet you can request records via mail, over the phone, and in person too.³

If you want to find out if someone is in jail or has been to jail, you can use these search engines that serve as a public records repository for daily arrests, past convictions, and/or criminal cases.

Both FOIA and New Jersey’s OPRA allow the public to have access to detailed criminal and arrest records. However, both the FOIA and New Jersey’s OPRA have limitations on when and how these criminal records can be released. Those restrictions primarily revolve around records used for law enforcement purposes that may have a negative impact on active law enforcement activities or an individual’s personal rights, such as the right to a fair trial.

Both federal and state laws have similar restrictions when it comes to public access to criminal records as well as arrest records.

However, because there are different record custodians (agencies that record, hold, and distribute public records) for criminal records as opposed to arrest records, there will also be slightly different processes for accessing these two separate types of records. Arrest records are primarily available through law enforcement agencies, while New Jersey criminal records are usually hosted by various state agencies and county courthouses.

The availability of criminal and arrest records comes with some caveats. For instance, certain types of records, such as juvenile records, usually aren’t public.⁴ In addition, sealed and expunged records are not available to the public.

Records are sealed or expunged by court order and typically occur in certain situations we will discuss later in this article.⁵

What Shows Up When You Search for Criminal Records vs Arrest Records in New Jersey?

While there may be some overlap, these two types of records also provide different types of information. Arrest records may be established as soon as someone is charged with a crime. If they are found “not guilty,” this will be noted on the arrest record.

Arrest Records Include:

• Birth Name
• Sex
• Birth Date
• Address
• Arrest date
• Charges (including the Indictment and Complaint)
• Disposition of Case and Reason
• Sentence Date and length (if applicable)
• Attorney
• Motions and Appeals
• Bail

A criminal record in NJ will show historical information, typically from the initial arrest to the latest court hearing or final disposition of the case. When a person is sentenced, additional information may also be available such as the length of their sentence and what jail or prison they are located in.

Criminal Records Consist Of:

• State Identification Number
• Full Name
• Race
• Ethnicity
• Sex
• Hair Color
• Eye Color
• Height
• Weight
• Birth Date
• Admission Date
• Current Facility
• Current Max Release Date
• Current Parole Eligibility Date
• All Offenses (including current arrests and sentence date)
• Incarceration history
• Aliases
• Mugshot

How To Find Recent Arrests in New Jersey, Why Someone Is in Jail & Mugshots for Free

To find recent arrests in New Jersey, you must first have a general idea of where the person was arrested since where you look depends on the law enforcement agency that made the arrest. If you want to find out if someone is in jail or what someone was arrested for, you will also need basic information on the individual to narrow down your results.

The individual’s name is a good starting point, but additional information will increase the chances of a successful search. This may include the location where the individual was arrested (e.g., city, county, or jurisdiction) and the date when the arrest occurred.

Once a successful search is conducted, information will be displayed regarding the individual’s background information, the arrest report, and why they are in jail. Here are your options for searching for New Jersey arrest records at the county and city levels.

Search New Jersey Arrest Records Through the County Sheriff Offices & County Jails

To find out if someone was arrested on the county level, it is important to understand that there are some differences as to what each county provides for New Jersey arrest records. In addition, there are different processes and nuances from one county to another. Most counties with their own inmate tool have a basic search engine in which you can enter the individual’s name.

Some will allow you to enter additional information, such as a date of birth or an identification number.⁶

Once you enter this information, you are provided with basic info on the individual and any arrests or crimes they committed. There will also usually be information on their incarceration, whether or not bail has been set, and other pertinent information.

For the most part, counties will have similar free search tools that can be utilized. However, smaller counties may only have a sheriff or jail’s contact information in lieu of an online inmate search tool. Here is a list of every county in New Jersey with a link to their inmate lookup tool (or county sheriff contact page if none is available), phone number, and whether they provide a mugshot database with their arrest records.

If the above options are unsuccessful, try contacting New Jersey’s Department of Corrections or using the search tool detailed below.⁷

How To Contact a Person in a New Jersey Jail & Bail Them Out

If you know what jail the individual is located in, a good starting point is to call the jail. They should have information on the specific processes for contacting an inmate and posting bail for them. Most jails have their own specific communication policies as well as their visiting and phone hours.

The New Jersey Department of Corrections has general information about the telephone system and how that works.⁸ All calls are made through Global Tel Link (GTL), and individuals trying to reach an inmate by phone must make sure they have money in this account.⁹

Another helpful resource for bailing out an incarcerated individual is to contact a bail bondsman local to the jail. They will be able to help you navigate the legal process of bailing someone out, and will be less costly than hiring an attorney.

How To Access & View New Jersey Criminal Records

While state agencies sometimes host criminal records, most criminal records are also hosted in county courts. There are also other avenues, such as the Court of Clerks and background check services, but these should only be used if other methods have proved unsuccessful.

There are various straightforward ways to look up criminal records for free in all New Jersey counties. Below are some of the best options in New Jersey.

• County Courts – you can visit any county courthouse (addresses are provided later in this article), and some of them have their own online tools for searching New Jersey criminal records.
• Department of Corrections – their website provides a statewide search of criminal records in New Jersey.
• NJ Courts Public Access – this website is another way to check criminal records by searching NJ criminal cases.¹⁰

Use the County’s Clerk of Court To Conduct a Criminal Record Search in New Jersey

If you know the county in which the individual was arrested or incarcerated, a good starting point is navigating to that county’s courthouse website to search directly. One can also go in person to the county courthouse to request criminal records. If there is no readily available online access, a logical next step is to reach out to the County’s Clerk of Court (or related office) to determine how to access criminal records.

When searching at the county courthouse, it is important to understand how each courthouse specifically operates since there are different processes or nuances from one county courthouse to another. Most county courts that have their own inmate tool have a basic search engine in which you can enter the individual’s name. Some will allow you to enter additional information, such as date of birth or an identification number.

Many county courthouses will have online search tools for criminal records. However, smaller counties may require you to go to the courthouse in person.

Here is a list of every county courthouse in New Jersey with a link to their criminal record search tool (or courthouse contact page if none is available), address, and whether they provide mugshots with their criminal records.

If you require additional assistance, you can reach out to the County Courthouse’s Clerk of Courts, and they may be able to direct you to the best way to obtain criminal records.

Here is the contact information for each county’s Clerk of Court.

Search the New Jersey’s Courts Public Access To Find Criminal Records in NJ

In addition to local searches, you can also search New Jersey criminal records statewide through the NJ Courts Public Access system. This system can show both arrests and any subsequent criminal records. The NJ Courts Public Access system is designed to provide detailed information on any criminal case in New Jersey.

Here are the steps for using the NJ Courts Public Access system:

1. Navigate to the NJ Public Access System.
2. Type the random characters displayed in the picture and click “I accept.”
3. Enter search information (e.g., name, indictment #) and click search.
4. On the next page, select the individual you are searching for by clicking on the button to the far left of their name.
5. From there you will be taken to the individual’s information. You can select their “case list” or “alias list” for additional information.

Note: In order to utilize this service, make sure your pop-up blocker is disabled for this website.

Search Criminal Records Through the New Jersey Department of Corrections (NJCOC)

The New Jersey Department of Corrections provides an online tool to find criminal records for current and released inmates of their state prison. Whether you have a state identification number or only a name, you can use this search engine to find specific information on any New Jersey incarcerated individual (e.g., height, weight, birth date) as well as detailed criminal record information.

This includes the crimes the individual was convicted of, the length of the sentence, and when they were or are scheduled to be released.

When using the search engine, simply input all available information. You can include personal features (e.g., hair color, eye color, race), age range, and, if you know it, the county in which the individual is incarcerated. You can find out someone’s charges in prison, prisoner mugshots, and other helpful information such as their release date.

How To Retrieve & Obtain a Copy of Criminal Records in the State of New Jersey

In New Jersey, there are ways to request a copy of someone’s rap sheet at both the state and local levels. At the state level, you can request your own copy through the Division of State Police Criminal Information Unit if you are a New Jersey resident.¹¹ In certain scenarios, you may want an official copy of criminal records for someone else.

For example, say you were planning on hiring a new employee and wanted a copy of any criminal records they had before hiring them. New Jersey allows you to conduct a name check background check using the form SBI 212B.¹² This form allows you to obtain the criminal records of another individual for non-criminal justice purposes.

You just need the individual’s information (e.g., name, birth date, etc.) and pay the required fee ($12-$20).

It is important to be aware that New Jersey limits the use of this form to very specific purposes (e.g., governmental purposes, employment, etc.). In addition, all federal and state laws still apply. That means when using this form to screen a potential employee, you still need to receive their consent.

At the local level, you will have to contact the county courthouse or law enforcement agency to determine how to request an individual’s criminal record.

How To Tell If Someone Is on Probation or Parole in New Jersey (Find NJ Probation & Parole Records)

If someone is on “probation,” that usually means they have been released from jail, while an individual on “parole” is someone released from prison. Jails are usually for shorter sentences and are on the local level. Prisons are usually for longer sentences and are run at either the state or federal level.

To illustrate just how many people are on probation and parole, the following image shows the combined total of probationers and parolees in New Jersey, along with the ethnicity of probationers only since parolee ethnicities were not available.

The New Jersey Department of Corrections provides a parolee database for all previously incarcerated individuals. Simply input the information you have on the individual to find out if they were on parole. Please note these records are not updated after an individual is released from prison.

That means just because they are listed as “paroled” does not mean that they are still currently under parole. It’s also important to note that the NJ Department of Corrections and law enforcement agencies have some discretion to exclude individuals from this search.

For a probation search, the best option is to find the probation division for the county in which the individual was incarcerated. Getting probation information may require calling this division directly or reaching out to the Clerk of Courts for direction on how to obtain this information.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons is a good tool for getting probation and parole information for individuals that have been incarcerated in federal prison.¹³

For sexual crimes, another option is to check the United States Department of Justice National Sex Offender website.¹⁴ Here, you can search for individuals by name and location.

Steps To Seal or Expunge a Criminal Record in New Jersey (NJ)

In New Jersey, Criminal records can be sealed by court order, and this removes the information from the public record. It still exists, but it will not show up on standard background checks. This can be a complex process in which you should generally seek the advice of a licensed attorney.

However, the process of expungement isn’t as complex and is far more common in NJ. When a criminal record is expunged, it means that all information regarding an arrest is completely removed. This includes any court proceedings and the outcome of your case.

To request an expungement, you usually have to wait 5 years after the completion of your sentence. In addition, all fines and fees must be paid in full. Here is a step-by-step guide for expunging criminal records, including New Jersey arrest records, dropped charges, and dismissed charges.¹⁵

New Jersey also provides expedited expungements and other types of expungement for certain offenses. Certain states have what’s referred to as auto-expunge for certain types of criminal records after a certain amount of time has passed. In New Jersey, you can have your case auto-expunged if your case was dismissed or for meeting certain requirements.

An example of this is when an individual successfully completes drug rehabilitation, they can have certain drug offenses automatically expunged.¹⁶

How To Find Someone in Federal Prison or State Prison in New Jersey

To find someone in New Jersey State Prison, your best resource is to use the search engine provided by the Department of Corrections. This search engine can be used to find specific individuals in state prisons as well as detailed criminal record information. You can either search them by their specific inmate number, name, or other specific distinguishing features of the individual (e.g., hair color, eye color, age).

Inmates in federal prison can be found at the Federal Bureau of Prison (BOP), where you can search by name and can narrow down results if you know the individual’s race, age, or sex.

You can also search by their assigned inmate number (e.g., BOP Register Number, FBI Number, etc.).

How To Check If Someone Has an Arrest Warrant in New Jersey

Federal warrants are issued by the U.S. Marshall and are difficult to search for publicly. This information is on the Warrant Information System (WIN) and can only be accessed by individuals with a need to know to perform their official duties.

New Jersey does not provide a statewide warrant list or database to search if someone has a warrant out for their arrest. However, if you have enough information about the individual, you may be able to contact the county sheriff’s office (seen in the table above) or the county’s clerk of court office to inquire with them.

In addition, you may be able to find out some information on active warrants by searching an individual’s criminal and court records as outlined above.

An Overview of New Jersey (NJ) Background Checks

Background checks may be needed for a variety of reasons, both personal and professional. These include:

• Rental applications
• Employment
• Purchase of Firearms
• Security Clearance Check
• Adoption Application
• Employer compliance with federal and state laws
• Individuals working or volunteering with minors (e.g., daycares) or the elderly (e.g., nursing homes)

Professional background checks are typically used to verify the personal information that an individual has provided and ensure there are no red flags. However, these types of background checks are regulated by federal (e.g., Fair Credit Reporting Act and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) and New Jersey state laws.^{17, 18} For instance, these laws prohibit discrimination and require explicit consent from the person being investigated before someone can obtain the background check.

There are 4 levels of professional background checks:

• Level 1 – this level only includes a name search (and SSN for verification) and is limited to New Jersey state and county criminal and employment records.
• Level 2 – this level provides a deeper search of local records as well as a national criminal history check. This is done by sending the individual’s fingerprints to the FBI to search their database. At level 2, you can receive the following information: (1) criminal information from misdemeanors to felonies (including pending cases and arrests); (2) prison/jail records; (3) civil judgments; (4) previous addresses and (5) marital status.
• Level 3 – this level includes education and employment verification.
• Level 4 – this level can include further financial and health screening.

In New Jersey, an individual can conduct their own personal background check by searching the NJ Courts Public Access system or searching court records in relevant New Jersey counties.

You can also make personal records request with the New Jersey State Police’s (NJSP) Identification & Information Technology Section (I&ITS) State Bureau of Identification (SBI).

Note: Personal background checks can be used by anyone and for any purpose as long as it does not involve anything illegal (e.g., harassment, stalking, etc.).

How To Find Nearby Sex Offenders by Searching the NJ Sex Offender Registry

For sex offender information, there is a  national sex offender registry operated by the United States Department of Justice that you access. You can also use  New Jersey’s sex offender registry.¹⁹ Once you access the site, simply click on the tab labeled “Search for Offenders in Your Area” at the top of the screen.

From there, you can conduct a search based on a particular individual’s name and contact information or a specific location.

Note: This is not a general felony registry and is only to search for individuals convicted of sexual offenses.

New Jersey Laws Regarding Criminal Records & Arrest Records

As discussed earlier, there is not much that can be done if an individual wants to conduct a personal background check without your consent unless they are using it to commit a crime. However, there are federal and local laws that must be followed when these searches are conducted for professional reasons.

New Jersey’s OPRA provides certain restrictions on what can be searched. In addition, the FCRA and EEOC provide protections to individuals that are subject to background checks. Those links also detail how to report the unfair use of criminal records during an employment screening or background check.

If you are concerned about your own criminal or arrest records, there are many ways to protect yourself. The best option may be to determine whether or not you can get your records sealed or expunged.

Whether you are searching for New Jersey criminal records, New Jersey arrest records, or are subject to a public records search, federal statutes and New Jersey laws provide protection.