Camden County Public Records /Camden County Criminal Records

Camden County Criminal Records

What Is Camden County Criminal Records

Camden County criminal records are official documents that chronicle an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system within Camden County, New Jersey. These records are maintained pursuant to New Jersey Open Public Records Act (OPRA), which establishes the framework for public access to government records.

Criminal records in Camden County encompass several distinct categories:

Arrest Records: Documentation of when an individual is taken into custody by law enforcement agencies, including the Camden County Sheriff's Office or local police departments
Conviction Records: Official documentation of guilty verdicts or pleas in criminal cases
Court Records: Documentation of criminal proceedings in the Camden County Courts
Incarceration Records: Information regarding detention in county correctional facilities

The distinction between arrest and conviction records is significant. Arrest records document that an individual was taken into custody but do not indicate guilt, while conviction records confirm that a person was found guilty of a criminal offense either through trial or plea agreement.

Criminal offenses in Camden County are categorized according to N.J.S.A. § 2C:1-4, which classifies crimes as:

Indictable Offenses: Equivalent to felonies in other states, these are serious crimes punishable by more than one year in state prison
Disorderly Persons Offenses: Similar to misdemeanors, these are less serious offenses typically punishable by up to six months in county jail
Petty Disorderly Persons Offenses: The least serious category, punishable by up to 30 days in county jail

Juvenile records receive special protection under New Jersey law. Pursuant to N.J.S.A. § 2A:4A-60, records pertaining to individuals under 18 years of age are generally sealed and not accessible to the public, with limited exceptions for certain serious offenses.

Multiple agencies maintain criminal records in Camden County:

Camden County Sheriff's Office
520 Market Street
Camden, NJ 08102
(856) 225-5470
Camden County Sheriff's Office

Camden County Superior Court
Hall of Justice
101 South 5th Street
Camden, NJ 08103
(856) 379-2200
Camden County Courts

New Jersey State Police
Criminal Information Unit
P.O. Box 7068
West Trenton, NJ 08628
(609) 882-2000
New Jersey State Police

Are Criminal Records Public In Camden County

Criminal records in Camden County are generally considered public documents under the New Jersey Open Public Records Act (OPRA). This statute, codified at N.J.S.A. § 47:1A-1, establishes that "government records shall be readily accessible for inspection, copying, or examination by the citizens of this State, with certain exceptions, for the protection of the public interest."

The law specifically states: "a government record shall not include the following information which is deemed to be confidential... criminal investigatory records." This creates an important distinction between active investigations and completed cases.

Public criminal records in Camden County typically include:

Court proceedings and case dispositions for adult offenders
Conviction records for adult offenders
Sentencing information
Incarceration records maintained by the New Jersey Department of Corrections
Sex offender registry information

However, several categories of criminal records are restricted from public access:

Active criminal investigations
Juvenile records (with limited exceptions for violent crimes)
Expunged or sealed records
Records that would compromise personal privacy beyond the public interest
Records that would jeopardize public safety or ongoing investigations

The New Jersey Courts have established specific guidelines for public access to court records through Rule 1:38, which designates certain records as confidential and exempt from public access. These include family court records, certain domestic violence records, and records related to mental health proceedings.

For criminal records maintained by law enforcement agencies such as the Camden County Sheriff's Office, access may be more restricted than court records, particularly for ongoing investigations or matters that have not yet been adjudicated.

How To Look Up Criminal Records In Camden County in 2026

Members of the public seeking criminal records in Camden County may utilize several methods to obtain this information. The process varies depending on the type of record sought and the maintaining agency.

For court records, individuals may:

Visit the Camden County Superior Court Criminal Division in person:

Camden County Superior Court
Hall of Justice
101 South 5th Street
Camden, NJ 08103
(856) 379-2200
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Camden County Courts

Submit an OPRA request form to the appropriate records custodian. The form must include:
- Requestor's name, address, and contact information
- Clear description of the records sought
- Preferred method of delivery (inspection, copies, electronic)
Pay applicable fees:
- Search fee: $10.00 per name/record searched
- Copy fees: $0.05 per page for letter-sized pages or smaller
- $0.07 per page for legal-sized pages or larger
- Additional fees may apply for certified copies

For Sheriff's Office records, individuals may:

Contact the Records Division directly:

Camden County Sheriff's Office
Records Division
520 Market Street
Camden, NJ 08102
(856) 225-5470
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Camden County Sheriff's Office

Complete a Records Request Form specifying:
- Subject's full name and date of birth
- Type of records requested
- Purpose of request
- Requestor's identification

For comprehensive criminal history information, individuals may:

Submit a request to the New Jersey State Police:

New Jersey State Police
Criminal Information Unit
P.O. Box 7068
West Trenton, NJ 08628
(609) 882-2000
New Jersey State Police

Complete fingerprinting through an approved vendor
Pay the required fee of $41.00 for a criminal history check

Pursuant to N.J.S.A. § 47:1A-5, records custodians must respond to requests within seven business days. Denials must cite the specific legal basis for withholding records and include information about the appeals process.

How To Find Criminal Records in Camden County Online?

Camden County offers several digital platforms that provide access to criminal records information. These online resources vary in scope and accessibility, with some requiring registration or fees.

The New Jersey Judiciary provides the primary online portal for accessing court records:

New Jersey Courts Public Access System
- Visit NJCourts.gov
- Select "Case Search" from the menu
- Search options include:
  - Case number
  - Defendant name
  - Attorney name
  - Business name
- Results provide case type, filing date, status, and party information
- Detailed documents may require in-person requests
Camden County Inmate Search
- Access through the Camden County Department of Corrections
- Search by inmate name or booking number
- Results include:
  - Current custody status
  - Booking date
  - Scheduled release date (if applicable)
  - Charges
  - Bond information
New Jersey Department of Corrections Offender Search
- Visit the NJDOC Offender Information
- Search by offender name or SBI number
- Provides information on current inmates and those released within the past year
- Includes facility location, sentence information, and parole eligibility
New Jersey Sex Offender Registry
- Access through the New Jersey State Police
- Search by name, address, zip code, or county
- Provides offender photos, addresses, conviction information, and risk level

For online access to police records, individuals may contact:

Camden County Police Department
800 Federal Street
Camden, NJ 08103
(856) 757-7400
City of Camden Contacts

Online limitations include:

Certain documents require in-person requests
Juvenile records are not available online
Expunged records are not accessible
Active investigations are excluded
Some detailed case documents require court registration

Users should note that pursuant to N.J.S.A. § 47:1A-2.2, certain personal information is redacted from online records, including Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, and financial account information.

Can You Search Camden County Criminal Records for Free?

The New Jersey Open Public Records Act (OPRA) establishes the right to inspect government records at no cost, though fees may apply for copies or certain specialized searches. Camden County residents have several options for accessing criminal records without payment.

Free in-person inspection is available at:

Camden County Superior Court
Hall of Justice
101 South 5th Street
Camden, NJ 08103
(856) 379-2200
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Camden County Courts

Visitors may:

Review case indexes and dockets
Examine non-confidential court files
View publicly available criminal case information
Take notes from records

Free online resources include:

New Jersey Courts Public Access
- Basic case information is available without charge
- Includes case type, filing date, status, and party names
- No registration required for basic searches
Camden County Inmate Lookup
- Free access to current inmate information
- Provides custody status and basic case details
- Updated daily
New Jersey Department of Corrections Offender Search
- Free access to state prison inmate information
- Includes current inmates and recent releases
- Provides sentence information and facility location
New Jersey Sex Offender Registry
- Free public access to registered sex offender information
- Includes photos, addresses, and offense details
- Searchable by location or name

While inspection is free, fees apply for:

Copies of documents ($0.05-$0.07 per page)
Certified copies ($10.00 plus copy fees)
Background checks ($41.00 through State Police)
Record searches requiring staff research time

Pursuant to N.J.S.A. § 47:1A-5(b), "A custodian shall permit access to a government record and provide a copy thereof in the medium requested if the public agency maintains the record in that medium." This provision ensures that if records are maintained electronically, they should be provided in that format when requested.

What's Included in a Camden County Criminal Record?

Camden County criminal records contain comprehensive information documenting an individual's interaction with the criminal justice system. The content varies based on the record type and maintaining agency, but typically includes several standard categories of information.

Identifying Information:

Full legal name and known aliases
Date of birth
Physical description (height, weight, eye/hair color)
Mugshot/booking photograph
Last known address
State Identification (SID) number
FBI number (if applicable)
Fingerprint classification

Arrest Information:

Date and time of arrest
Arresting agency (e.g., Camden County Sheriff's Office or local police)
Booking number and processing details
Charges filed at arrest with statutory citations
Bail or bond information
Detention facility

Court Case Information:

Case/docket number
Court of jurisdiction
Filing date
Formal charges filed by prosecutor
Statutory citations with offense classification
Plea information
Defense attorney information
Prosecutor assigned
Judge presiding
Court appearance dates

Disposition Information:

Verdict (guilty, not guilty, dismissed, etc.)
Conviction date (if applicable)
Sentencing details:
- Incarceration length and facility
- Probation terms
- Fines and court costs
- Restitution ordered
- Special conditions (treatment, community service)
Appeal information
Probation/parole status and violations

Additional Information:

Active warrants
Protective/restraining orders
Sex offender registration requirements
DUI/DWI offenses
Traffic violations connected to criminal cases
Pending charges
Probation/parole status reports

Records maintained by the Camden County Courts focus primarily on case proceedings, while law enforcement records from agencies like the Camden County Police Department contain more detailed arrest and investigation information.

The New Jersey Department of Corrections maintains records specific to incarceration, including facility assignments, disciplinary actions, and program participation.

How Long Does Camden County Keep Criminal Records?

Camden County maintains criminal records according to retention schedules established by the New Jersey Division of Archives and Records Management (DARM) under N.J.S.A. § 47:3-26. These schedules vary by record type and maintaining agency.

Court records retention periods include:

Indictable Criminal Case Files: Permanent retention for murder, manslaughter, and sexual offenses; 15 years after case disposition for other indictable offenses
Disorderly Persons Case Files: 5 years after case disposition
Petty Disorderly Persons Case Files: 3 years after case disposition
Criminal Docket Books: Permanent retention
Criminal Case Indexes: Permanent retention
Probation Records: 10 years after termination of supervision
Bail Records: 5 years after case disposition

Law enforcement records retention periods include:

Arrest Reports: 75 years
Investigation Reports: 75 years for solved major crimes; 50 years for unsolved major crimes; 5 years for minor offenses
Booking Records: 10 years
Fingerprint Cards: 75 years
Mugshot Photographs: 75 years
Incident Reports: 3-7 years depending on offense type

Corrections records retention periods include:

Inmate Case Files: 10 years after release
Inmate Medical Records: 7 years after release
Disciplinary Reports: 3 years after inmate release

Certain records receive special treatment:

Expunged Records: Physically destroyed or electronically segregated pursuant to court order under N.J.S.A. § 2C:52-1
Juvenile Records: Generally sealed at age 18 unless the case involved certain serious offenses
DNA Records: Maintained indefinitely unless expungement is ordered

The retention of digital records follows the same schedules as paper records. However, technological changes and system migrations may affect the accessibility of older digital records.

Records that have met their retention period may be destroyed according to procedures established by DARM, which require formal authorization before destruction. Historical records of significant value may be transferred to the State Archives for permanent preservation.

Lookup Criminal Records in Camden County

Sheriff's Office | Camden County, NJ

Camden | NJ Courts

The Official Website for the New Jersey Department of Corrections