Franklin Township Criminal Records
Franklin Township criminal records are managed through the local police department, the municipal court, and the Somerset County Superior Court in Somerville. Franklin Township is the largest municipality in Somerset County with roughly 68,000 residents. The Somerset County vicinage oversees all indictable criminal matters for the township. Less serious offenses are handled by the Franklin Township Municipal Court. Both levels of the court system maintain criminal records that the public can access through several methods.
Franklin Township Quick Facts
Somerset County Superior Court Criminal Records
All indictable criminal cases from Franklin Township are filed at the Somerset County Superior Court in Somerville. The courthouse is at 20 North Bridge Street, Somerville, NJ 08876. Call 908-231-7600 to reach the Criminal Division. This court processes felony-level charges for every municipality in Somerset County, including Franklin Township.
| Court | Somerset County Superior Court, Criminal Division |
|---|---|
| Address | 20 North Bridge Street Somerville, NJ 08876 |
| Phone | 908-231-7600 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
Franklin Township Police and Municipal Court
The Franklin Township Police Department handles all arrests within the township. Officers generate reports for every arrest, and those reports become part of the criminal record. The police maintain their own files on arrests, investigations, and incident reports. You can request copies of police reports through the records bureau at the department.
Franklin Township Municipal Court hears disorderly persons offenses, petty disorderly persons offenses, and local ordinance violations. Cases include simple assault, minor theft, low-level drug possession, and disorderly conduct. The court creates records for every case it handles. These records include the complaint, hearing notes, and disposition.
If charges are upgraded from the municipal level to indictable, the case transfers to Somerset County Superior Court. In those situations, records exist at both levels. The municipal court keeps its original file, and the county court creates a new one for the upgraded charges.
How to Search Criminal Records in Franklin Township
The PROMIS/Gavel Public Access portal is the best place to start an online search. This free tool from the New Jersey Courts covers all criminal cases in Somerset County, including those from Franklin Township. You can search by name or docket number. Results include charges, filing dates, and case status. The portal runs at all hours and needs no account.
For in-person searches, go to the Somerset County Superior Court at 20 North Bridge Street in Somerville. The clerk can look up active and closed cases by name or docket number. You can request plain or certified copies of any document in the case file. Older records stored in the archives may take a few extra days to retrieve.
The Somerset County criminal records page offers another way to search. This resource gathers public record data from multiple sources across the county. It can help when you are unsure where a case was filed or want to check multiple sources at once.
When searching for Franklin Township criminal records, have these details ready:
- Full legal name of the person
- Date of birth or approximate age
- Case docket number if available
- Year the case was filed
Somerset County Prosecutor and Criminal Cases
The Somerset County Prosecutor's Office reviews all indictable criminal cases from Franklin Township. Their office is at 40 North Bridge Street in Somerville. The phone number is (908) 231-7100. The prosecutor decides whether to present charges to the grand jury and handles all trials for serious offenses originating in the township.
Detectives from the prosecutor's office sometimes work with Franklin Township police on major cases. These joint efforts produce investigation records that become part of the county court file. The prosecutor also runs special units for narcotics, domestic violence, and other case types. Victims can contact the Victim-Witness Unit for updates on pending Franklin Township cases.
Public Access to Criminal Records
New Jersey's Open Public Records Act gives you the right to access most government records, including criminal records from Franklin Township cases. Under N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1, you can submit an OPRA request for specific documents. The records custodian must respond within 7 business days.
You can send OPRA requests to the Somerset County Superior Court or to the Franklin Township Police Department. Court records include dockets, filings, and judgments. Police records include arrest and incident reports. Both agencies have their own records custodian and their own process for handling requests.
Sealed records, expunged records, and juvenile files are not available to the public. Grand jury materials are confidential. Active investigation files may also be withheld. Outside of those limits, most criminal records tied to Franklin Township cases are accessible.
Expungement of Franklin Township Criminal Records
Expungement seals a criminal record from public access. You file a petition with the Somerset County Superior Court. The fee is $75. If the judge grants the petition, the record is removed from public databases. This covers records at the court, the police department, and the prosecutor's office.
Waiting periods vary by offense. Most indictable offenses require 6 years after sentence completion. Disorderly persons offenses require 5 years. The Clean Slate Act may allow expungement after 10 years if you have had no new offenses. Drug court completers may qualify sooner. The NJSP Expungement portal can help you check if your Franklin Township criminal record qualifies for relief.
Criminal Background Checks
Full criminal background checks go through the New Jersey State Police. They keep the statewide criminal history database. Fingerprints are submitted via Live Scan. The fee is $42. Results cover Franklin Township and every other town in the state. Call the NJSP at (609) 882-2000 for nearby submission locations.
The State Police check returns records from all New Jersey counties. It is the most complete way to verify a criminal history. New Jersey also runs a sex offender registry under Megan's Law. You can search it online through the State Police website. The registry covers all of Somerset County and the entire state.
Somerset County Criminal Records
Franklin Township is in Somerset County. All indictable criminal cases are filed at the Somerset County Superior Court in Somerville. The county serves 21 municipalities. For more on the county court system, fees, and search resources, visit the Somerset County criminal records page.