Ocean County Arrest Records

In Ocean County, arrests occur when there is good reason to believe an individual has committed a crime. Law enforcement agencies in over 30 police departments, including the Sheriff's Office, carry out these arrests to maintain law and order. Arrested persons are typically remanded in custody while waiting for their court appearances. During the arrest and booking process, arrest records, part of the broader Ocean County Court Records, are generated. They typically include the arrestee's physical description, booking photograph, the arresting officer, witnesses, and the circumstances of the incident. These and other public records, such as arrest warrants and criminal records, provide insights into a person's interactions with the legal system.

Are Arrest Records Public in Ocean County?

The Open Records Act (OPRA) guarantees New Jersey citizens" rights to view, copy, or copy public documents produced and maintained by public agencies while conducting "public's business". The public access to some arrest records is nevertheless limited by particular exemptions in the Act. Some of these restrictions consist of:

• Restrictions on convicted persons obtaining personal information about their victims or the victims' families.
• Access to ongoing investigations that may be harmful to public interest.
• Records related to incidents involving juveniles are exempt from public disclosure.
• Records related to victims of domestic, child, or sexual abuse are withheld for privacy and safety concerns.
• Records related to attorney-client privileges.
• Records that contain personal identifying information such as social security numbers, credit card numbers, unlisted phone numbers, and driver's license numbers.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

The Open Public Records Act (OPRA) in Ocean County authorizes the disclosure of specific components of an arrest record, such as:

• Arrestee's Information: This comprises the individual's name, age, and residence.
• Arrest Details: The date, time, and location of the arrest.
• Charges: The specific charges or offenses for which law enforcement agents arrested the person
• Arresting Agency: The law enforcement agency that made the arrest.
• Case Status: Information regarding the case status, such as whether it is ongoing or has been resolved.
• Court Information: Details regarding the court where the case is being or will be heard.

Ocean County Crime Rate

According to a 2020 New Jersey Uniform Crime Report, the total number of offenses reported in Ocean County was 5,361 incidents. Of this total, violent crimes constituted 10.24% (549 incidents). A breakdown of the different violent crime types revealed that assault constituted 7.35% of all crimes in the county, while murder (9 incidents), rape (58 incidents), and robbery (88 incidents) accounted for 0.17%, 1.08%, and 1.64%, respectively.

On the other hand, property crimes constituted 89.76% (4,812 incidents) of the total crimes reported in the county. Burglary, larceny, and auto theft accounted for 13.22% (709 incidents), 73.31% (3930 incidents), and 3.23% (173 incidents), respectively.

Ocean County Arrest Statistics

The 2020 Uniform Crime Report from the NJSP site put the total number of arrested persons in the county at 986. A breakdown of the type of offenses law enforcement officers detained arrestees for showed that more than half (52.73%) of detainees were arrested for larceny (520 cases).

In comparison, 25.35% (250 cases), 14.71% (145 cases), and 4.06% (40 cases) were arrested for assault, burglary, and robbery, respectively. Others include 1.22% (12 cases), 1.01% (10 cases), and 0.91% (9 cases) arrested for murder, auto theft, and rape, respectively.

Find Ocean County Arrest Records

Requesters searching for Ocean County arrest records can use the New Jersey Department of Corrections online Offender Search Form to look up inmates in the state's jail facilities. Interested persons can access this search tool on the department's website. On the site, requesters can enter different search criteria, such as an inmate's SBI Number, first name, last name, or even a single name alias.

Requesters can also enter more detailed searches based on the inmate's sex, hair color, eye color, race, ethnicity, county of commitment, current facility location, and birth date and age. The search tool returns detailed records on an inmate, such as their current location, sentence length, and criminal history.

At the federal level, requesters can use the Federal Inmate Locator or the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Detainee Locator to track the location and status of persons in the federal prison system or immigration detention facilities. However, the Federal Inmate Locator only provides results on federal inmates imprisoned since 1982. To find prisoners' records before 1982, interested parties should contact the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).

Additionally, requesters can visit the state's prison facilities to request information in person. However, this may require an appointment and adherence to specific visitation rules.

Free Arrest Record Search in Ocean County

Requesters looking for free arrest records in Ocean County may wish to check the Ocean County Department of Corrections's Inmate Lookup Tool. This comprehensive database of incarcerated inmates is searchable by name or unique identifier. An inquirer must input the first and last name if searching by name. At the same time, the unique identifier offers the selection of an identifier from a dropdown list, including a booking number, permanent ID, or County ID.

The following Ocean County arrest records are available to visitors for free:

• Features of the prisoner physically
• Information on arrests
• List of aliases
• information about bonds and detainers
• Information about charges

Requesters should note that while using this tool is free of charge, requesting copies in person, via mail, or email may attract charges per relevant state laws.

Get Ocean County Criminal Records

An Ocean County criminal record is extensive legal documentation generated by local courts, detention facilities, and law enforcement agencies at the local and state levels on the criminal activities of a convicted individual.

The New Jersey Administrative Code (N.J.A.C.)13:59-1 empowers the New Jersey State Police (NJSP) to disseminate criminal history record information for noncriminal justice and licensing to individuals and organizations, including:

• Governmental agencies at the federal and state levels
• Potential employers
• Licensed private detectives

Below is a summary of how Ocean County applicants can obtain their criminal history record information (CHRI) through the NJSP website:

1. Schedule an Appointment: To begin, applicants must schedule an appointment with an authorized fingerprint-capturing vendor who is permitted to capture fingerprints for CHRI checks.
2. Fingerprinting Procedure: Applicants' fingerprints will be collected during this activity. This is an important step since it enables the authorities to authenticate the applicant's identity and connect it to the criminal records repository.
3. Payment: The fingerprinting procedure costs $45.73. Applicants can make payments using a variety of methods, including VISA, Master Card, American Express, Discover, prepaid debit cards, or electronic debit (ACH) from their checking account.
4. Download the Personal Record Request Letter: Within 24 to 72 hours of being fingerprinted, applicants can access the Personal Record Request letter on the New Jersey State Police (NJSP) website. This letter represents an official request for their CHRI.
5. Requesters have up to 90 days from the date of fingerprinting to obtain their Personal Record Request letter.
6. If applicants cannot complete the form download within the stipulated period, they must repeat the process, including fingerprinting.
7. Follow-Up and Questions: Applicants who do not receive a response within ten working days after submitting their request can contact the Criminal Information Unit at (609) 882-2000 ext. 2302 or email them at CIU@njsp.gov for assistance.

To obtain a personal criminal history record check, applicants should review the guidelines on the NJSP’s website.

Ocean County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Even though "arrest records" and "criminal records" are used interchangeably in Ocean County, they serve different purposes and contain various types of information.

Law enforcement agents generate arrest records during an arrest. These records typically consist of the arrestee's physical description, booking photograph, the arresting officer, witnesses, and the circumstances of the incident. They are usually accessible from the sheriff's office.

Conversely, criminal records are extensive legal documents laying out a person's criminal history. New Jersey laws permit eligible persons to acquire criminal history records from the New Jersey State Police (NJSP), Identification & Information Technology Section (I&ITS), and State Bureau of Identification (SBI) for noncriminal justice purposes. These documents contain arrest and conviction reports and can include information about arrest warrants, arrests, third-party complaints, convictions, and even non-prosecuted cases.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

After ten years of no criminal activity, the New Jersey courts will automatically expunge a person's entire record of arrests and convictions.

Under the Clean Slate Law, the waiting period for eligibility to erase a record is ten years from the last conviction, release from incarceration, or completion of probation, whichever comes last.

However, criminal offenses such as murder, rape, arson, robbery, and kidnapping are not eligible for expungement.

Expunge Ocean County Arrest Records

Applicants seeking the expungement of their Ocean County arrest records may apply for free through the eCourts Expungement System. Eligible persons can access the platform via the New Jersey Courts website. Nonetheless, they will need their case number to start the process.

On the eCourt website, applicants must create a first-time user account or log in as a returning user. They must also review the user guide to navigate the expungement petition filing process smoothly.

The expungement filing process does not always require a court appearance, but the court may ask a petitioner to appear to provide additional information.

Ocean County Arrest Warrants

Ocean County arrest warrants are legally binding orders issued by a judge or court authorizing law enforcement authorities to apprehend someone for a suspected crime. They are issued when there is probable cause to think the subject committed a crime, as demonstrated by evidence or sworn statements.

A judge may issue a warrant for arrest for various reasons, including failure to appear in court, breach of probation, or in respect to a new allegation. They can also issue warrants for specific offenses, such as criminal, domestic, juvenile, and others.

The Warrants Section in Ocean County is in charge of carrying out any arrest warrants. Each year, they receive approximately 7,000 warrants and maintain a high discharge rate, ensuring that all court orders and directives are followed.

Ocean County Arrest Warrant Search

The Ocean County Sheriff’s Office and the New Jersey State Police publish a list of the most wanted persons on their websites. Visitors must click on the “read more” or “more information” icons below the photographs of the fugitives to access an extensive description of a subject’s physical characteristics and details of the charges against them.

For more information on Ocean County fugitives, interested persons may contact the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office at the following address:

Ocean County Sheriff's Office
Ocean County Justice Complex
P.0. Box 2191
120 Hooper Ave.
Toms River, NJ 08754-2191
Phone: (732) 929-2044
Fax: (732) 349-1909

Do Ocean County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Ocean County arrest warrants do not expire. Such warrants will only become ineffective when the subject of the warrant has their day in court, passes away, or a judge or magistrate revokes the warrant for whatever reason. Individuals with outstanding warrants against them stand the risk of arrest during a random interaction with law enforcement officials.