Conduct a free New Jersey warrant search to help put your mind at ease about your wanted status, look up details of a wanted acquaintance, or simply see who has one issued for them locally.
Often, these records can be accessed online at no cost to the searcher, thanks to the state and federal Freedom of Information Acts. Discovering active arrest, bench, or other warrants can help individuals make a plan to resolve legal issues if they realize a court order was issued for them.
This resource outlines the steps for efficiently performing a warrant search and handling active warrants in New Jersey.
The Availability of Warrant Records in New Jersey
A range of different warrants are used by courts and law enforcement in New Jersey. Most of these records are publicly available and people can find the information by looking in the right places.
The state’s Open Public Records Act (OPRA) expands the public’s right to access government information.1 It defines government records as any that have been made, maintained or kept on file, which includes warrants.
However, people requesting documents may find that privacy laws limit what they can receive. This is intended to ensure that the information isn’t used to harm citizens.
In general, agencies must make records readily available while still protecting a resident’s personal information. When it comes to warrants, records of juveniles and those related to specific types of crime, including sexual abuse and domestic violence, may have limited accessibility due to legal restrictions and privacy concerns.
There are also cases where a judge impounds records or when information isn’t public, as it interferes with law enforcement actions.
While some warrants are available online, other agencies require a phone call or in-person visit before they provide details.
Locating Warrants in New Jersey (An Overview)
There are a variety of different records available to the public in New Jersey, including a range of warrants that a person may be interested in searching for.
Some are available through online searches, while others can be found by contacting different government departments by phone or in person. The best place to find this information depends on the type of warrant an individual is looking for.
To find a New Jersey warrant record, a searcher must know the person’s first and last name as well as the location where the warrant was issued. Other information, such as date of birth and the county or city where they live, can help narrow down the search.
There are a variety of agencies that keep a record of this information and many can be searched online for free. In some cases, information is consolidated into a single state database. The best information comes from searching in the region the warrant was issued, however results can often be found more quickly if searchers start with broad regions and narrow parameters as they seek more details.
As warrants can come from different courts, they can be issued at the state, county, municipal or federal level. They tend to be kept by agencies of the same level. For example, an arrest warrant for a federal crime will be stored by U.S. agencies.
How To Run a New Jersey Warrant Search on Yourself or Someone Else for Free
It’s better for individuals to be proactive if they believe there is an outstanding warrant against them. Taking action by turning themselves in is likely to have better outcomes than waiting for police to make an arrest. There are several ways residents can discover if they have any bench or arrest warrants.
New Jersey Municipal Courts have two systems that provide information about traffic tickets and other municipal court complaints. The first is the Municipal Court Case Search (MCCS).2 This is a free service that can be searched using a person’s name or their ticket number, complaint number or driver’s license number.
The search results in this system contain a lot of information. The first page shows any warrants under that name, whether they’re outstanding or recalled, the court name, as well as details such as the offense, case number and case status.
Users can also view a summary of individual records, which includes the court date and time and the warrant number. There’s also the option to view additional details. This has all the information already shown, plus details about any relevant vehicles, injuries, bail and other involved persons.
There is an additional system called NJMCdirect that allows residents to look for traffic, parking tickets, or other municipal court complaints.3 It also provides the opportunity to resolve complaints, make a plea and pay any fines to avoid arrest. This is only possible if the offense doesn’t require a court appearance.
To conduct a warrant search using this database, a person must have the court ID, prefix and ticket number. To protect the privacy of New Jerseyans, searchers must also provide some identifying information, such as driver’s license number or the defendant’s zip code.
Questions about traffic tickets or municipal warrants can be asked in person or by phone at the municipal court where the ticket was issued; contact information for every municipal court in New Jersey can be reviewed to find the relevant court.
New Jersey State Police has a Most Wanted page online that includes a list of fugitives along with their mugshots, descriptions and details of crimes.4 However, there isn’t an online warrant search available.
It is possible to contact the state police in person, by phone or by email to ask about outstanding warrants, however if a searcher has an active warrant they may be arrested on the spot. Addresses of local road stations can be found on the state police website.
New Jersey State Police
Ph: (609) 882-2000
Email: [email protected]
The State Parole Board maintains a Parole Fugitive Watch list for people who have violated probation or parole.5 Residents can contact the tip line if they have any information about these fugitives.
State Parole Board Fugitive Apprehension Unit
Ph: (800) 523-3829 or (609) 633-0603
Email: [email protected]
Note that these resources only show warrants. Arrest and criminal records can be found through different online databases.
Look Up Warrants in New Jersey at the County Level
Local sheriff’s offices generally have divisions that serve and manage warrants, so it’s possible to get information at the county level. Depending on the location, information can be found through county courts, the sheriff’s office itself or on the county website.
Bergen County doesn’t have an online warrant search available for residents. People who wish to find out information about outstanding warrants in the county can contact the sheriff’s office by phone or in person. Officers can arrest an individual at the time if an outstanding warrant is discovered.
Bergen County Sheriff’s Office
2 Bergen County Plaza
Hackensack, NJ 07601
Phone: (201) 336-3500
Individuals in Middlesex County can also get warrant information by contacting the sheriff’s office in person or by phone. Again, if the warrant is active, a person can be arrested when making inquiries.
Middlesex County Office of the Sheriff
701 Livingston Avenue
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Phone: (732) 745-3271
Although the Essex County Sheriff’s Office enters all warrants into the Sheriff’s Records Management System, this database isn’t available to the public.6 Searchers can get information about outstanding warrants by contacting the sheriff’s office by phone or in person, though an individual may be arrested if it’s found they have an active warrant.
Essex County Sheriff’s Office
50 W Market Street
Newark, NJ 07102
Phone: (973) 621-4111
As all municipal court records in New Jersey are listed in the Municipal Court Case Search system, cities and towns in the state, don’t tend to have individual online databases.
However, searchers can conduct a warrant search by contacting local courts to discover more information about outstanding warrants in their name.7 Local police departments may also be able to assist.
Broaden the Search From New Jersey to Federally Issued Warrants
Federal warrants aren’t as common as those issued by state, county and municipal authorities. However, there are some people wanted for arrest for federal crimes. All federal warrants are collected in the Warrant Information System (WIN) but this isn’t accessible to the public.
The US Marshals Service executes most federal warrants. They keep an online list of the 15 most wanted fugitives to help members of the public to identify offenders. Similar lists are maintained by other federal agencies. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) lists the 10 most wanted fugitives, and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has a list of fugitives they’re looking for.8
An attorney can help complete a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Marshals Service to discover any warrants.
Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) is a national database of court records. Searchers can find federal arrest and search warrants by searching for the person’s name and clicking ‘Case Number’. From here, users can select ‘Docket Sheet’/’Docket Report’ or ‘History/Documents’ to see further information.
As of 2023, PACER charges $0.10 per page or $2.40 per audio file. It’s important to note that there is a fee for search results based on the number of pages generated in the results. This can make a generic search expensive.
Primary Types of Warrants in New Jersey & the Reason for Each
There are different types of warrants used in New Jersey. Below are some of the common ones found in a warrant search and what they’re used for.
Arrest Warrants: As the name suggests, these warrants state a person can be arrested. Law enforcement must explain to a judge why they believe the individual should be arrested for the crime. For less serious offenses, a person may simply receive a summons to appear in court.
Bench Warrants: A bench warrant is an order from the court. It gives law enforcement authority to arrest someone and is generally used when a person doesn’t comply with court orders or fails to appear in court.
Probation & Parole Violation Warrants: These warrants are issued when a person has violated the conditions of their parole or probation. A person’s parole or probation officer files a complaint with the court that issued the sentence, and the judge can issue a warrant for arrest. The New Jersey State Parole Board has a Revocation Hearing Unit that examines whether an individual’s parole should be revoked.
Traffic Warrants: These are issued when a person receives a traffic ticket but doesn’t pay the fine or appear in court. Since May 2022, New Jerseyans with unpaid fines or traffic tickets of less than $500 haven’t been arrested. Instead, they’re issued a new court date and released on the scene.
Child Support Warrants: These are a type of bench warrant issued when a person who is ordered to pay child or spousal support fails to appear at a hearing or doesn’t provide the required money.
Capias & Capias Pro Fine Warrants: Capias warrants are used to ensure a person appears in court. Essentially, it allows a person to be detained until their court date.
Capias pro fine warrants occur when a person doesn’t comply with a court order, usually in relation to paying a fine or restitution. The person is taken directly to court to explain why they haven’t followed the court order.
Fugitive Warrants: Fugitive warrants are issued when someone is wanted for arrest but has fled the jurisdiction where the crime occurred. It informs law enforcement in other counties or states about the individual and allows them to make an arrest and send the arrestee back to face charges. New Jersey State Police has a Fugitive Unit that works to identify and apprehend wanted people.9
Search Warrants: These warrants give police permission to search a person’s home, car or private property to look for evidence of a crime. Officers must show that there’s probable cause to believe evidence will be found in the property. The warrant must also state what evidence will be seized and what place will be searched.
An active warrant is any that is outstanding, hasn’t been executed or is unresolved. Therefore, any of the above types can be an active warrant.
Managing Warrants for Yourself or Someone Else in New Jersey
If a searcher finds a warrant for a friend, acquaintance or family member, the best course of action is to notify them. Then, the person named in the warrant can take steps to resolve the issue. However, if there is a safety concern it’s best to contact a law enforcement tip line by phone or email.
New Jersey State Police Tip Line
Phone: (800) 437-7839
Email: [email protected]
If an individual discovers a warrant for themselves, they should also work to resolve it. For minor matters such as traffic tickets, the first step should be NJMCdirect.
This system allows people to search for warrants, make a plea, pay any fines and resolve a case through the online form. This convenient process means people don’t have to pay for legal advice and can finalize the warrant with ease.
For more serious offenses or those that require a court date, it may be best to seek out legal assistance. A lawyer can communicate with law enforcement for you, make arrangements for you to go into a police station and may be able to resolve issues on behalf of the individual.
The final option is for a person to turn themselves in. For those choosing that course, it’s best to talk it over with family, legal aid and a bail bondsman before going to the police station. This means everything will be in place to help the individual quickly get released from police custody.
In this way, a New Jersey warrant search can help people sort out legal problems and start fresh.
References
1New Jersey Government Records Council. (n.d.). Citizen’s Guide To OPRA. Retrieved March 12, 2024, from <https://www.nj.gov/grc/public/citizens/>
2New Jersey Courts. (2024). Case search. Retrieved March 12, 2024, from <https://portal.njcourts.gov/webe41/MPAWeb/jsp/inquiry/case/CaseSearch.faces>
3New Jersey Courts. (2024). Search for traffic ticket or municipal complaint. Retrieved March 12, 2024, from <https://portalnjmcdirect-cloud.njcourts.gov/prweb/PRServletPublicAuth/app/MuniPay/wQ2guhy8lqKPggD8pVI7RLYVZ9vxwNMF*/!STANDARD?AppName=NJMC&fromBrowserHistory=true>
4New Jersey State Police. (n.d.). New Jersey’s Most Wanted. Retrieved March 12, 2024, from <https://nj.gov/njsp/wanted/>
5New Jersey State Parole Board. (n.d.). Parole Fugitive Watch – SPB Most Wanted Fugitives. Retrieved March 12, 2024, from <https://www.nj.gov/parole/docs/wanted/Most%20Wanted%20Parolees.pdf>
6Essex County Sheriff’s Office. (n.d.). Records and Archiving. Retrieved March 12, 2024, from <https://www.essexsheriff.com/laweservices/records-and-archiving/>
7New Jersey Courts. (2022, March 8). State List of Municipal Courts. Retrieved March 12, 2024, from <https://www.njcourts.gov/sites/default/files/courts/municipal/municipal-court-locations-and-contacts.pdf>
8Federal Bureau of Investigation. (n.d.). Ten Most Wanted Fugitives. Retrieved March 12, 2024, from <https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/topten>
9New Jersey State Police. (n.d.). Fugitive Unit. Retrieved March 12, 2024, from <https://nj.gov/njsp/division/investigations/fugitive-unit.shtml>