Atlantic County Arrest Records

In Atlantic County, an arrest becomes necessary when there is probable cause to believe that an individual has committed a crime. Probable cause may be based on evidence, a witness statement, and other investigative findings. Additionally, an intention to commit a crime supported by overt actions also serves as a legal ground for law enforcement to arrest an individual.

Generally, law enforcement in Atlantic County includes the Atlantic County Sheriff’s Office and the local police department. These agencies are primarily responsible for maintaining public peace and safety in the County. As such, they make arrests and keep records of individuals taken into custody.

It is important to note that an arrest does not mean the arrestee is guilty. Arrestees are typically entitled to bail after a reasonable period. However, suppose there are reasonable grounds to believe their release may pose an imminent risk to society or where the suspect was arrested under a warrant. In that case, law enforcement may detain them for a longer period. Individuals detained under such circumstances are usually held in the Gerard L. Gormley Justice Facility until their first court hearing, where they may petition the presiding judge for bail.

Both the court clerk and the Identification Bureau within the Sheriff’s Office maintain records related to the hearing and the detention process. This information may be accessible through the Atlantic County court records and over the counter at the Sheriff’s Office. Consequently, individuals seeking comprehensive information on a specific criminal case may obtain these two connected records and other relevant public records, such as inmate records, to get a detailed overview.

Are Arrest Records Public in Atlantic County?

In Atlantic County, the Open Public Records Act (OPRA) maintains the public’s right to review and copy records kept by government agencies, which includes arrest records, court records, and other public records. Consequently, the custodian of the arrest record you seek is obligated to honor your request.

However, exemptions exist under the law. Law enforcement officials may decline requests for arrest records relating to:

• An ongoing criminal investigation (not included in N.J.S.A. 47:1A-3b)
• Further inquiries relating to the victim or medical examiner photos.
• Expunged records or information are to be kept confidential pursuant to court order.

To access exempt records, requesters may need to obtain a court order granting permission.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

An arrest record usually contains:

• The full name of the individual arrested.
• Physical descriptors, including height, race, eye color, and hair color.
• The arrestee’s age.
• Mugshot
• Date, time, and location of arrest.
• The arresting agency.
• Charges.
• Circumstances surrounding the arrest.
• Bail conditions.
• The warrant details (if the arrest was made pursuant to a warrant).

Atlantic County Arrest Statistics

According to the Atlantic County Corrections Statistical and Isolated Confinement Report, in the first quarter of 2022, from January through to the last day of March, the number of individuals incarcerated in the county jail was 595. On the last day of the year, the total count was 576. At the end of the first quarter of 2023, the number had increased to 701. By the end of the year, the number of inmates totaled 772. On the last day of March 2024, the total count of the county jail inmates was calculated at 743, while 786 were recorded in the second quarter and 845 in the third quarter.

Find Atlantic County Arrest Records

The state Department of Corrections Offender Search form is a convenient way to locate individuals incarcerated in the County Jail. To access arrest records through this platform, visit the search form page and enter the offender’s SBI number and their first and last name into the appropriate section of the page. You should also indicate their sex by clicking the button relevant to the appropriate option in the list. Proceed to select their hair color, eye color, race, county of commitment, and current facility location by scrolling down each list and clicking the appropriate option. Click on submit to facilitate the search.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmates Locator tool also allows members of the public to find records of inmates in the federal prison system. Accessing records through this medium requires providing information sufficiently identifying the specific case, including the first and last names of the inmates and other relevant information that may be required. You may also look inmates up on VINELink.com, a national inmate tracking resource.

Free Arrest Record Search in Atlantic County

The following platforms provide avenues for searching arrest records for free:

The request for government records form: Print the form, fill it out, and file it with the Atlantic County Sheriff’s Office or the appropriate custodian of the arrest record. You may do this via email, mail, or in person using this information:

Atlantic County Sheriff's Office

OPRA Custodian
4997 Unami Blvd
Mays Landing, NJ 08330
Phone: (609) 909-7234

Third-party websites managed by private establishments also provide quick and easy access to arrest records. You may visit any one of these websites and provide information relating to the arrest you seek to facilitate a search result.

Atlantic County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

An arrest record documents a situation where a law enforcement agency arrests and takes an individual into custody. It includes information about the arrest itself, such as the date, time, location, and reason for the arrest. Arrest records do not imply guilt; they merely indicate that an individual was taken into custody. Thus, arrest records are typically created by law enforcement agencies.

Conversely, criminal records, also known as rap sheets, are more comprehensive. While arrest records focus on specific instances of arrest, criminal records document everything relating to the individual's contact with the justice system. This includes their arrest, arraignment, trial, acquittal or conviction, incarceration, and release. Thus, a criminal record is the go-to source for discovering whether an arrestee was eventually convicted of an offense. Employers, landlords, and potential business partners typically use it to assess an individual’s background. This allows them to make certain determinations about the individual’s character.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Under state law, information about an individual’s arrest remains on record forever unless the individual has the record expunged.

Expunge Atlantic County Arrest Records

An expungement is a legal way to wipe a specific criminal offense from your legal profile. Individuals seeking expungement must petition the courts that heard the case to obtain it. If the judge is satisfied that the petitioner has met all the legal requirements for an expungement and that, under the circumstances, it is just to grant it, the court will issue an expungement order.

However, the right to petition is subject to certain eligibility requirements. For misdemeanor-related arrests, the arrestee must remain arrest-free for 5 years after completing their sentence and all terms related to the conviction. After waiting out this period, they may petition the court for an expungement. For felonies, the duration is 10 years, and 2 years for violation of municipal ordinance.

You may begin the expungement petition process online through the eCourts Expungement System. Typically, you have to create an account and follow this guide provided by the courts for expungement filings. The system provides this service for free.

Alternatively, you may start the expungement procedure in person by going to the courthouse to submit a formal petition form. Please note that this information will be required to complete the expungement process:

• Date of arrest and detention.
• Crimes leading to the arrest.
• Detailed list of all arrests, charges, and prosecution, even if the applicant is not seeking expungement for all.
• The date you were found guilty or discharged and acquitted of the crime.

You may seek help on how to get copies of this information from the Criminal Case Management office in the county court where the case was heard.

Below is a general breakdown on how to file a petition:

Make three copies of each notarized document. This includes the Expungement Petition (Form A), the Order for Hearing (Form B), and the Proposed Expungement Order (Form C). Keep one and submit the original forms with two additional copies to the court. Once filed, the court will provide you with stamped copies that include an "Expungement Docket Number" and the date and time for the hearing.

After receiving the filed copies, make at least seven copies of each document. Send these via mail to these agencies:

• The New Jersey Attorney General
• The Expungement Unit, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police
• The county prosecutor
• The administrator of the municipal court, if applicable
• The head of the law enforcement agency that conducted the arrest
• Any other law enforcement officials involved in the arrest
• The warden or superintendent of any detention facility related to the arrest
• The County Probation Division, if a conditional discharge or dismissal was granted

In your mail, ensure that you request a return receipt. If no agency opposes the expungement, the court may approve it without holding a hearing. In this case, the court will send the petitioner a signed expungement order by mail. Upon receipt of the mail, send copies of this order to all agencies that originally received the petition.

The process is usually swifter for arrests that did not result in a conviction. It is advisable to ask a lawyer to assist you with the process.

Atlantic County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a document issued by a court of law authorizing law enforcement to apprehend an individual based on probable cause that the individual has committed a crime. The relevant law enforcement agency usually handles this authorization by seeking out the individual for arrest or disseminating information to the general public, informing them about the risk associated with the continued freedom of the suspect. The disseminated information is often supported by a plea for information that may lead to the suspect’s arrest.

Law enforcement agencies typically obtain arrest warrants by applying to a magistrate or a judge for one. They must present evidence to the judge establishing probable cause that the suspect is guilty of the crime. If the judge is convinced about the offender’s guilt, she issues a warrant for the individual’s arrest.

The document usually contains:

• The name of the arrestee
• The description of the offense
• The commanding judge’s signature

Do Atlantic County Arrest Warrants Expire?

An arrest warrant typically remains active until the named individual is apprehended or turned in. It may also remain valid until justification to quash it is presented to the issuing court. Other factors that may affect its continued validity include the suspect's death.