Run a Free New Jersey Probation Search (Streamlined Resource)

Conduct a free New Jersey probation search in no time; determine whether or not someone you know is under supervision in the community. This brief article provides guidance on how to find information on probationers, including violations and contact details for their supervising officers.

A probationer is someone convicted of a crime and ordered to serve all or part of their sentence under probationary supervision. Parole is when a sentenced offender is released early from prison, generally for good behavior. Parole and probation are conditional and can be revoked if the individual doesn’t comply with the conditions applicable to their status.

Read on to find helpful links and search tools for a streamlined lookup.

Execute a New Jersey Probation Search for Free

Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), members of the public have the right to access federal records, apart from specific exemptions that infringe on personal privacy or are classified.

The Open Public Records Act (OPRA) in New Jersey provides that citizens should have ready access to state government records through a public record request.

The most streamlined way to do a probation search in New Jersey is to request court records. This can be done through the NJ Courts public access system. The system is open to all members of the public, and individuals can perform an electronic search of court records from the New Jersey Superior Courts that hear criminal, civil and family cases.

These searches can establish whether the person of interest has a criminal record and their sentence, including probation time. The New Jersey court state system is unified and has 15 superior court districts known as vicinages.

You can discover information from superior court judgments by searching for criminal judgments.¹ Before reaching the search pages, users should enable pop-ups on their browsers, as both web pages use pop-ups.

First, complete the CAPTCHA box and then press the Accept button. Users must first specify the county, although they can also choose all counties. The next field lets the user search by:

• Defendant Name
• Indictment Number
• PROMIS Case Defendant Number
• State Identification (SID) Number
• Complaint

The next screen may list more than one person, including aliases.

Selecting the correct defendant will then open the court record and sentencing, including probation time.

It’s wise to do a second PROMIS/Gavel criminal convictions search, as this may bring up different cases. As before, the first step is to select the defendant’s name. Other options for conducting searches include:

• County
• Complaint Type
• Year of the Offense
• Court (Using the Court Code)
• State Bureau of Identification (SBI) Number

By selecting the correct defendant from the list, it’s possible to view charges against the individual and their sentence, including probation time.

Another way to conduct a probation search in New Jersey is to request copies of court records from the New Jersey Courts by downloading a request form. The requester must provide their name and address and specify the Records Request Processing Location. The Copies of Court Records web page provides guidance on completing the records request form.²

In most instances, the correct processing location for finding someone on parole would be the Superior Court Clerk’s Office. Users can submit the completed form electronically using the Submit button on the same web page.

Certain fees may be charged, but these vary by location so be sure to check with the relevant clerk before submitting a request. The New Jersey Probation Department is run through the New Jersey Courts system and their contact details are included in the table below.

Look Up Probation Records on County & Municipal Levels in New Jersey

Each county court in New Jersey has a probation department. This department supervises offenders on probation and enforces court orders regarding it.

It also assists victims and works to re-socialize offenders on probation. These departments in New Jersey primarily focus on offender rehabilitation and don’t normally provide information on probationers to the public.

However, information on locating probation records services can be obtained from these courts. Individuals can initiate a probation search in New Jersey through any county courthouse. These centers normally combine the functions of the state superior court and the county municipal court. Interested persons can initiate a New Jersey records search by visiting or calling county court or vicinages, including the following:³

Find Someone’s Probation Officer & Violations in New Jersey

While there’s no publicly available list of offenders who are on probation, the searches referred to in the first section can identify if an individual is on probation.

To verify probation status and check for parole violations, interested parties can contact the New Jersey State Police and request Criminal History Record Information (CHRI).

Public access to this system is limited to persons and nongovernmental organizations interested in employing or engaging the individual in paid or volunteer work. An individual can also obtain a copy of their criminal record from a New Jersey Criminal History Records Information website.

One of the requirements for a probation search is that the individual must have their fingerprints taken by IDEMIA at an IdentoGo site, a company contracted to perform this service. A fee of $45.73 is charged.

Other sources of information on parole offenders include New Jersey’s most wanted list and the New Jersey Department of Corrections escapees list.⁴

Another way to find information on a parole offender is through the Department of Corrections for the State of New Jersey; the offender search provides information on the last known status of the offender, whether they are still in prison or have been released.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t provide current probation information, and offenders are removed from this list a full year after their sentence and parole completion.

The state of New Jersey’s probation system is managed through the court system. There are 14 probation division managers appointed across the state, as shown in the table below.⁵

How To Search for Individuals on Parole in New Jersey

Parole is not a remission of a prison sentence. Instead, it’s a more lenient way for offenders to complete their sentences.

Members of the public and prospective employers Information can search for offenders on parole using the State of New Jersey Department of Corrections Offender Search function.⁶

Users must accept a disclaimer before reaching the search form. Fields include:

• SBI Number: Use if available
• First name:
• Last name
• Sex
• Race
• Hair color
• Eye color
• County of commitment
• Current facility location

It’s not necessary to enter all the fields. However, search results are limited to 250 results so it may be necessary to enter additional information to narrow the search down.

Offenders on parole are supervised by a state parole officer and must conform to specific conditions. Should they violate these conditions, they may be returned to incarceration to complete the rest of their sentence in jail or prison. The New Jersey State Parole Board maintains a list of all offenders who are on parole.

The best way to establish whether an offender is on parole is to email the State Parole Board at “SPB_Public_Info_Office@spb.state.nj.gov“.

Another way to find information is to perform an Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request using the New Jersey Parole Board records request form.⁷ This form must be submitted by hand, faxed or sent by mail to the New Jersey State Parole Board Custodian of Records at the following address:

New Jersey State Parole Board
Custodian of Records
171 Jersey Street, Building Number 1
Trenton, NJ 08611

The postal address is:

New Jersey State Parole Board
Custodian of Records
PO Box 862
Trenton, NJ 08625

Fax Number: (609)-292-4493

The form stipulates that applicants must pay a printing fee and that there may be additional special charges payable before they will process the request.

Use the steps outlined in this resource to conduct a New Jersey probation search and discover whether someone you know is currently being supervised.