Burlington County Arrest Records

Burlington County has several law enforcement agencies authorized to make arrests. A person is arrested when caught committing a crime or when reasonable suspicion exists that the person has committed a crime. Depending on the situation, arrests can be carried out with or without a warrant. In some cases, a law enforcement officer will not need to obtain an arrest warrant to detain a person caught committing an offense.

The arresting agency generates an arrest record once a suspect has been detained. The record contains information about the arrest event. After a person has been taken into custody and booked, the Prosecutor's Office may press charges against the arrestee in court. If charges are pressed, the arrest record usually plays a role in the court hearing. It is typically included in the prosecuted individual's case file and is stored as a Burlington County Court record.

Adult male arrestees are detained at the Burlington County Jail which is run by the Sheriff's Office. Female offenders are held at the Atlantic County Jail while juvenile offenders are either held at the Middlesex County Juvenile Center or the Ocean County Juvenile Center.

Are Arrest Records Public in Burlington County?

Yes, Burlington County arrest records are public. The New Jersey Open Records Act (OPRA) governs public access to the county's arrest records. Per the OPRA, individuals can freely request the disclosure of an arrest record from their custodian, provided the record is not restricted. A restricted court record is not accessible to the general public. They are mostly only accessible to law enforcement, government agencies, the subject of the record, and a parent or legal guardian if the record is that of a minor. Arrest records typically restricted from the public in Burlington County include:

• Juvenile arrest records
• Any medical information contained in an arrest record
• Personal information of a crime victim (especially victims of domestic violence)
• Arrest records of an active investigation
• Sealed and expunged arrest records

Individuals who want to access a restricted arrest record may contact the court to obtain a court order. The court will only issue a court order granting access to the record if the requester's plight and access to the record are deemed necessary.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

The public generally has access to the following arrest information found in non-confidential Burlington County arrest records:

• The arrestee's personal information: Full name, date of birth, gender, address and body description
• The date and time of the arrest
• The arresting agency
• The arrest charges
• Fingerprints and mugshots
• Booking number
• Bail amount and conditions
• Court dates

Burlington County Crime Rate

Law enforcement agencies in Burlington County, through the Uniform Crime Reporting (U.C.R.) program, maintain a record of the crimes that occur in the county.

According to the 2020 Crime Statistics, Burlington County reportedly witnessed 5,184 crimes. The crime rate was 1,172.3 crimes per 100,000 persons. The most popular crime was larceny which occurred 3,620 times. Other crimes committed include burglary at 630 times, assault at 426 times, auto theft at 301 times, and robbery at 100 times. Murder and rape were the least occurring crimes at 11 and 96 times respectively.

Burlington County Arrest Statistics

30 law enforcement agencies reported crimes committed within their jurisdiction in 2020. Of these 30 agencies, only three agencies reportedly made no arrests. The agencies that made no arrests are the Burlington Sheriff's Office, the Springfield Township Police Department, and the Fieldsboro Police Department.

The combined number of arrests made in Burlington for 2020 was 1,374. Arrests were also made for the following crimes:

• Larceny: 834 arrests
• Assault: 315 arrests
• Burglary: 132 arrests
• Robbery: 49 arrests
• Auto theft: 22 arrests
• Rape: 20 arrests
• Murder: 2 arrests

Find Burlington County Arrest Records

When an arrest is made, the law enforcement department that makes the arrest typically maintains the record. Individuals may visit the office of the arresting department to request an arrest record in their custody. Alternatively, the requester can complete and mail (or email if available) an OPRA request form to the arresting agency. To obtain an arrest record in the custody of the Sheriff's Department via mail, individuals should complete the department's OPRA request form. The completed form should be forwarded to the appropriate address below:

Administration Building
49 Rancocas Rd
Mount Holly, NJ 08060
FAX: (609) 265-5151
Email: opra@co.burlington.nj.us

Obtaining an arrest record costs 5 cents per page for letter-size pages and 7 cents per page for legal-size pages. Additional fees may be incurred from delivery fees and a special service charge which is dependent on the record requested.

The Burlington County Department of Corrections has an inmate locator tool on its website. The tool can be used to locate inmate information in the county. A search discloses the full name of the inmate, jail I.D., the facility held, bail amount, and estimated release date. A search is conducted using the inmate's name.

Individuals can access arrest information of inmates in a New Jersey correctional facility through the Offender Search Engine of the New Jersey State Police Department. The search engine has various search criteria that a user can use to locate inmates. These include:

• A State Bureau of Identification (S.B.I.) number
• First and last name
• Sex, ethnicity, hair color, eye color, and race
• County(s) of commitment
• Current facility location
• Birth date range and age range

Arrest records of an offender who has completed their custodial term are removed one year after the completion. This does not include offenders under Community Supervision for Life (C.S.L.) or Parole Supervision for Life (P.S.L.) because there is no completion date for the custodial term.

The Bureau of Prisons (B.O.P.) inmate search tool can be used to look up arrest information of federal inmates. The search criteria on the B.O.P.'s inmate search tool include:

• First name, middle name, and last name
• Race, sex, and age
• B.O.P. register number
• DCDC number
• F.B.I. number
• I.N.S. number

Arrest records are also found in case records if an arrestee was charged in court. An inquirer may visit the Clerk of Court at the courthouse where a case was heard to obtain the court record. Alternatively, inquirers may also download the New Jersey court record request form, complete it, and submit the form. The request is processed, and the resulting court record is sent to the requester's email address.

The New Jersey Court's website also has a criminal case search tool that can be used to locate court records. A search on the portal can be done by name, indictment/accusation number, or C.D.R. number.

Free Arrest Record Search in Burlington County

Researchers can obtain arrest information for free using the Burlington County inmate locator tool. The inmate locator allows inquirers to search for inmates in the county at no cost.

Individuals may seek the services of third-party sources to obtain arrest record information for free. Private companies independently run these sources. They are consumer-oriented and generally aim to provide a hassle-free experience when accessing arrest records. Most vendors will divulge some arrest information on the arrest record a person is searching for. However, a fee may be required to access the full arrest record on their database.

Third-party vendors are a convenient means of obtaining arrest records, but they cannot grant access to confidential documents, and their records may not always be accurate.

Get Burlington County Criminal Records

A criminal record comprises a person's criminal history with the justice system. A criminal record typically includes an individual's history of arrests, charges, convictions, and sentences.

Burlington County local law enforcement agencies, including the Sheriff's Office, do not perform criminal history checks for individuals. Burlington County residents who want to conduct a criminal history check will have to do so through the New Jersey State Police Department. The state police Criminal Information Unit handles criminal history checks

Individuals may need to perform a New Jersey criminal background check for a couple of reasons, including:

• Good conduct
• Immigration
• Personal record keeping
• Naturalization
• Expungement
• Visa
• Foreign interactions
• International adoption

Burlington residents can perform an in-state or out-of-state criminal history check. New Jersey criminal history checks are outsourced to an approved private company under contract with the state police. The requester begins the criminal history check process by submitting their fingerprints at a live scan site of the third-party company. The applicant will have to schedule an appointment to utilize the fingerprint services.

The appointment can be scheduled in person at the preferred live scan site, online, or by calling the company's toll-free number. Online scheduling is available 24 hours a day and is the easiest way to schedule an appointment. The appointments are scheduled using a service code. A service code is a unique combination that reflects the Originating Agency (O.R.I.) and Reason for Fingerprinting (R.F.P.). This helps the applicant in making the correct type of criminal history check. The service code also helps the independent provider know which criminal record requires notarization and which does not.

After fingerprinting, the personal record request letter will be available for download on the company's website within 24 to 72 hours. If the personal record request letter is not downloaded after 90 days, the applicant will have to start the request process and fingerprinting all over. Any questions or revisions regarding the requested criminal record must all be made within the 90-day period. The fingerprinting fee is $45.73 ($15.73 service charge and relevant state sales tax inclusive). The acceptable forms of payment are card payments and electronic debit (A.C.H.) from a checking account. Payment is also non-refundable once the process is complete.

Once the criminal history check is complete, the criminal record is mailed to the applicant's address. If no record is found, the result will be available for download from the vendor's website. Any inaccurate or incomplete information the requester provides that affects the criminal record will incur additional fees to correct, as the request process will need to be redone. Questions and inquiries can be forwarded to the Criminal Information Unit by phone at (609) 882-2000 ext. 2302 or by email.

Employers of labor can conduct a name-based criminal history check on a prospective employee. A name-based criminal history check does not require the fingerprints of the criminal record's subject. The check is done using the individual's name, date of birth, social security number, and other relevant description. The name-based check begins by submitting the SB212 form on the Name Check Record Request portal. A name-based criminal history record check can only be successful if the subject of the record consents to the check. Submission of the SBI 212 form costs $20 payable by credit or debit card. The fee is reduced to $12 for name-based volunteer submissions.

Employers who need a more thorough check done may opt for a fingerprint background check. Also, the SBI 212 form cannot be used by individuals to request their own records. Personal criminal history record requests must be made using the fingerprint option.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (F.B.I.) also receives criminal history check requests. A non-refundable $18 fee is charged for a criminal history check request, which can be made online, by mail, or through an FBI-approved channeler.

Burlington County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

An arrest record and a criminal record both play a vital role in the criminal justice system, and they are similar in the information they contain. Law enforcement agencies create an arrest record after an arrest. This record documents all necessary information about an arrest. The created arrest record also serves as the beginning of a criminal record. The entirety of the arrestee's arrest record is also documented in the individual's criminal record. A criminal record details a person's history with the criminal justice system. This means that although it contains arrest records, it also comprises further information like the individual's sentences and convictions.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrests of individuals convicted of a crime are maintained on the person's record indefinately. Neither Burlington County nor the state of New Jersey mentions a retention period for arrest records of individuals convicted of a crime. However, the state makes provisions for the expungement of an arrest record if the subject of the record meets specific eligibility criteria.

Individuals arrested but found not guilty or had the charges dropped, have their arrest record automatically expunged. Pursuant to N.J.S. 2C: 52-6, once a person is tried and is not found guilty of the charges, the Superior Court immediately gives an order to have the arrest record expunged. Individuals whose dismissal or discharge resulted from a plea bargain that led to convictions on other charges are not eligible for automatic expunction.

Expunge Burlington County Arrest Records

An expungement, according to N.J.S. 2C:52-1, is the elimination or concealment of an arrest record held by either law enforcement or the court. An expungement ensures the arrest record becomes inaccessible and unfindable. Applications for expungement are made at the Burlington County Superior Court. An individual may file for the expungement of an arrest record if they satisfy the eligibility requirement for the arrest record they wish to have removed. The eligibility criteria in New Jersey differ depending on the nature of the case. The following statutes expatiate the eligibility criteria for different offenses.

• N.J.S 2C:52-2 - Indictable offenses
• N.J.S 2C:52-3 - Disorderly offenses and petty order disorderly offenses
• N.J.S 2C:52-4 - Violation of Municipal ordinances
• N.J.S 2C:52-4.1 - Juvenile delinquency
• N.J.S 2C:52-5 - Young drug offenders

Burlington County Arrest Warrants

The Superior Court issues arrest warrants in Burlington County. Arrest warrants grant legal permission to law enforcement officers to arrest an individual. Before issuing an arrest warrant, law enforcement agencies make findings to confirm if a person has committed a crime. If the findings produce probable evidence or furnish a reasonable suspicion, a request for an arrest warrant is filed in the court. The sitting judge then examines the evidence provided by law enforcement and issues a warrant for arrest if sufficiently convinced by the evidence.

An arrest warrant typically contains the full name of the suspect, the charges for which the warrant was issued, the date of issuance, and the name and signature of the judge. The arrest warrant also contains the written order for the detainment of the suspect.

Burlington County Arrest Warrant Search

The Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency in Burlington County and is the primary executor of arrest warrants. Individuals wishing to verify the existence of an arrest warrant can do so by contacting the Burlington County Sheriff's Office. Local police departments may also hold arrest warrants and can be contacted for inquiries.

Inquirers can consult the New Jersey Most Wanted Fugitives list for details on individuals with active arrest warrants. This list provides information on the state's most wanted individuals.

Some court records contain information about arrest warrants. To find out if a warrant was issued for a court case, one can visit the courthouse and request the record. The New Jersey Court case information search portal may also be used to look up non-confidential court records.

Do Burlington County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, arrest warrants do not expire. Law enforcement agencies are mandated to execute an arrest warrant no matter how long it has been in existence. As long as an arrest warrant exists, it is active and executable. A warrant becomes inactive after it has been executed or if the court recalls or quashed the warrant. A recall or quashing of an arrest warrant may occur if the court no longer considers the arrest necessary or if issues are found with the existing warrant.