Find New Jersey Inmate Records

New Jersey inmate records are files that document the details of a person's incarceration. The information disclosed in these documents includes, but is not limited to, the charge, the security risk, transfer, mugshots, sentence, time and place of arrests, gender, age, address, and more. The state's inmate records are created, managed, and disseminated by the New Jersey Department of Corrections (NJDOC). Alternatively, interested parties may also get the records from approved third-party sites.

Are Incarceration Records Public Information in New Jersey?

In New Jersey, Incarceration records are public records. Pursuant to the state's Open Public Records Act (OPRA), this information is made available to the general public to ensure its safety. Most importantly, the administrative and personal inmate documents are publicly accessible. However, the NJDOC prohibits access to specific details, such as the criminal's health.

Records that fall under the category of public information may be accessible through multiple sources. While government agencies remain the primary custodians of these records, many third-party websites have emerged as alternative access points. These platforms often gather and index information from different jurisdictions, making it possible to search across broad geographic areas without being restricted to a single county or state database. This can be particularly beneficial when the exact origin of a record is unknown. To search, one generally needs to provide the subject's name, unless the subject is a juvenile protected by confidentiality laws, along with an indication of the location—whether specific or approximate—where the record was created. It is critical to recognize that third-party databases are separate from official agencies, which means they are not regulated, endorsed, or sponsored by government authorities. Consequently, their coverage may be inconsistent, and record availability cannot always be guaranteed.

What Information is Contained in a New Jersey Inmate Record?

Inmate records in New Jersey are generated using the reports gathered from court records, arrest records, and the personal details obtained when interrogating the criminal. The following is the information disclosed in a New Jersey inmate's document:

• Inmate's last & first name
• Race
• Mugshots
• Physical details
• Booking number
• DOB
• Sex
• Address of the Jail facility
• Parole number
• Inmate's offense

Where do I Look Up an Inmate in New Jersey?

The documents of an inmate's detention are accessible via the state's inmate finder, maintained by the New Jersey Department of Corrections. On the portal, interested persons can search for an inmate's records through inmate number, the last & first name, race, DOB, or gender.

. However, there are records of certain inmates who are restricted. Therefore, they may not be publicly available on the inmate finder portal. To gain access to such documents, the requester has to petition the appropriate government agency, stating the reasons for wanting that record. According to C.47:1A–2.2 of the New Jersey OPRA, the court can limit access to certain inmate records. Also, some of these details can only be opened if the information thereon is vital to the applicant's safety. Below are some state agencies where individuals can check inmate records in New Jersey:

• The New Jersey inmate-finder
• The local police officials/county sheriffs
• The NJDOC's office
• County jails with online search tools

How Do I Conduct an Inmate Search in New Jersey?

Requesters can search for New Jersey inmates through;

Inmate Finder: This is a web-based repository managed and updated by the New Jersey Department of Corrections. The repository offers interested parties and inmates details such as name, gender, booking number, and more. The inmate finder tool contains the records of released persons within the last twelve months and those currently incarcerated. Parolee records are also accessible to interested parties using this tool.

Requesters may search for New Jersey inmates in the state's prisons via the state bureau of investigations (SBI) number and their names. To further narrow the search, requesters are advised to add the inmate's current prison address, age, hair and eye color, race, gender, and birth date. When this is done, the portal will produce search results with administrative and personal inmate records and pictures to make inmate identification simpler for the requesters.

County Jails with Online Search Tools: Certain county jails in New Jersey offer web-based inmate finder tools. Requesters can check if the concerned county jail has a search tool by looking up the county's website. Some counties have a website dedicated to their sheriff; in such cases, if the county has an inmate search tool, it will be on the sheriff's website. Alternatively, interested persons may physically visit the concerned sheriff's office to view an inmate's record.

Petitioning to access a public record under the Open Public Records Act: As stated in C.47:1A 7 of the OPRA, if any custodian of a government record (such as an inmate's record) refuses to grant access to it, a requester can petition for the document's release. Then, the appropriate council shall vote on the petition. This will decide whether the record should be made accessible or not.

After a majority vote, if the council finds that the custodian unreasonably denied access to the records, the council can impose sanctions.

How Can I Find an Inmate for Free in New Jersey?

Individuals can locate incarcerated inmates in New Jersey through the NJDOC inmate finder for free. To search, the requester should enter the correct details for an inmate or a parolee. One significant piece of information to help narrow the search is to enter the inmate's "county of commitment".

How to Find Old Inmate Records in New Jersey

Interested persons can obtain old New Jersey inmate records by visiting the appropriate police division that handled the inmate's arrest. Individuals can access these old files, archived in the office of the proper county sheriff. Also, requesters can view documents of convicts provided by the state's court.

Alternatively, authorized third-party sites also keep records of old inmates from New Jersey. The records can be obtained via mail, online, or in person.

For parole information, the state's parole board maintains and disseminates such reports when requested. Interested parties must submit a request for parole offender documents to the parole board's official email. However, individuals should note that this nature request will also need an OPRA request order, obtainable from the court.

Inmate Release Date Lookup In New Jersey

The New Jersey Department of Corrections (NJDOC) operates an online offender search portal that provides inmate release information, including parole eligibility. Dates may be altered depending on parole board decisions or commutations.

New Jersey Department of Corrections – Central Office
P.O. Box 863
Trenton, NJ 08625
Phone: (609) 292-4036

How do I Find Inmate Death Records in New Jersey?

New Jersey inmate death records are obtainable from the state's Department of Corrections. Applicants can request this document by mail or in person. When ordering an inmate's death records, the requester should state all necessary details of the deceased, such as SBI number, full name, and, if available, the prison's address. All requests for New Jersey inmate death records should be sent to:

The New Jersey Department of Corrections
Whittlesey Road, P.O. Box 863
Trenton, New Jersey 08625
Phone: (609) 292-4036
Fax: (609) 292-9083
Email: New Jersey Email

How do I Conduct a Federal Prison Inmate Search?

Through the Federal Bureau of Prisons, interested individuals can process a U.S federal prison inmate search. Whether for official or personal reasons, the process is executed in two ways:

Inmate Name: This is done through the inmate's first, middle, & last name, age, gender, and race.

Inmate number: This is done using the numbers from the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), the Department of Corrections, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The inmate records available with the Federal Bureau of Prisons are from 1982. For questions and complaints, requesters can reach their office at:

The U.S Federal Bureau of Prisons
320 First St., NW
Washington, DC 20534
Phone: (202) 307-3178

How Long Does it Take For An Inmate's Information to Be Published in New Jersey Inmate Locator?

The NJDOC manages the booking process and the online registration procedures for all prisons in the state. Fully documenting an inmate's information can take hours, depending on the sources from which this information is gathered. On average, an inmate's record gets uploaded to the state's inmate finder within two hours after bookings and registrations.

Why Is An Inmate Not Showing Up In Search?

The New Jersey Department of Corrections' inmate locator may not display newly admitted inmates or those awaiting complete intake processing. In some cases, individuals serving short-term sentences in county facilities are not listed in the NJDOC system because counties maintain separate records. Juvenile offenders and individuals under certain court-ordered privacy protections are not accessible through the public search tool. Technical issues or incorrect input of the inmate's name or SBI number can also result in missing search results.