Paterson Criminal Records Access
Paterson criminal records are held by the city police department and the Passaic County Superior Court. Paterson is the largest city in Passaic County and the county seat. The police headquarters at 1111 East 27th Street has a records division that handles report requests under OPRA. The Passaic County Superior Court at 77 Hamilton Street processes all indictable criminal cases for the area. Both agencies provide public access to criminal records through formal request channels.
Paterson Quick Facts
Paterson Police Criminal Records
The Paterson Police Department maintains criminal records for incidents within the city. Their headquarters is at 1111 East 27th Street, Paterson, NJ 07513. The records division handles all requests for police reports and criminal records. You can submit requests through several channels, giving you options based on what works best for your situation.
OPRA requests for Paterson criminal records can be submitted in the following ways:
- Online through the city's OPRA portal
- By email to oprarequest@patersonnj.gov
- By fax to (973) 321-1311
- By mail to the records division at police headquarters
Copy fees for Paterson criminal records follow state rates. Letter-size pages cost 5 cents each. Legal-size pages cost 7 cents each. The city must respond to your OPRA request within seven business days. If the records division needs more time, they must notify you and give a specific date for when the criminal records will be ready. Large or complex requests may take longer to process.
The Paterson police also maintain CompSTAT data that tracks crime statistics across the city. Traffic collision reports are available through the records division as well. These reports can be part of a broader criminal records search when collisions involve criminal charges such as driving while intoxicated or leaving the scene of an accident.
Paterson Municipal Court Criminal Records
The Paterson Municipal Court handles disorderly persons offenses, petty disorderly persons offenses, and traffic violations. The court operates from City Hall at 155 Market Street, 3rd Floor. You can also reach them at 111 Broadway. The phone number is (973) 321-1310. Criminal records from this court cover lower-level offenses that do not go to Superior Court.
The MCCS portal is free to use. Enter the person's name to find any municipal court criminal records in Paterson. Results show the charge, case status, and final outcome. The system covers all municipal courts in New Jersey, so you can check for criminal records in other cities at the same time.
Note: The Paterson Municipal Court phone number (973) 321-1310 is your best contact for questions about specific court criminal records.
Criminal Records at Passaic County Superior Court
The Passaic County Superior Court at 77 Hamilton Street handles all indictable criminal offenses for Paterson. Call 973-247-8600 for general information. The Criminal Division Records office can be reached at 973-653-2910, extension 24397. This office manages case files, provides copies, and responds to record requests for criminal matters across Passaic County.
Indictable offenses processed through this court include serious crimes such as aggravated assault, robbery, weapons charges, and drug distribution. When Paterson police make an arrest on an indictable charge, the case moves from the police level to the Superior Court. The criminal records created at this stage include the indictment, all pretrial motions, any plea deals, trial transcripts, and the final judgment. These records are maintained by the court clerk and are available for public review in most cases.
The Passaic County records portal provides online access to certain criminal records. You can search by name or case number to find basic case information. For full documents or certified copies, you need to contact the Criminal Division Records office directly or visit the courthouse in Paterson. Bring a valid photo ID for any in-person requests.
Passaic County Sheriff and Inmate Records
The Passaic County Sheriff's Office is at 435 Hamburg Turnpike in Wayne. You can call them at (973) 389-5900. The sheriff handles warrant service, court security, and inmate transport for Paterson and the rest of Passaic County. Their office maintains criminal records related to these functions, including active warrant lists and booking information.
The sheriff provides an inmate lookup tool that lets you search for people currently in custody. This is useful when you need to confirm whether someone has been arrested and is being held on criminal charges. The lookup shows basic booking details including the charge, bail amount, and date of arrest. These records are part of the broader criminal records system in Passaic County.
The New Jersey State Police also maintain a sex offender registry that covers all of Paterson and the state. This is a separate criminal records database that tracks registered sex offenders by location. You can search it online through the state police website. The registry is public and does not require an OPRA request to access.
Expungement of Criminal Records in Paterson
Paterson residents with criminal records may be able to get them expunged. Expungement seals the record so it does not show up in most searches. You file a petition with the Passaic County Superior Court. The NJ State Police expungement portal helps you check if you qualify and guides you through the paperwork.
The process starts with gathering your criminal history. You need to know every charge, the outcome, and the dates involved. The state police portal can pull your full criminal history so you have an accurate picture. Once you have that, you prepare the petition and file it with the court in Paterson. You must serve copies on every agency that holds your criminal records, including the Paterson police, the Passaic County Prosecutor, and the state police.
A judge reviews the petition and any objections from law enforcement. If the judge grants it, all agencies must seal the criminal records. This means the Paterson police, the court, and the state police all remove the records from public view. The process takes several months from start to finish, but it can make a real difference for people looking to move past old criminal records.
The following image shows the NJ State Police expungement system, which is the starting point for clearing criminal records. The expungement portal walks you through eligibility.
Recent changes to New Jersey law have made more people eligible for expungement, including those with certain drug convictions.
Public Access to Criminal Records in Paterson
New Jersey's Open Public Records Act gives the public the right to request government records, including criminal records held by Paterson police and the Passaic County courts. OPRA covers most types of records, though some are exempt. Active investigation files, sealed records, and certain victim information cannot be released.
When you submit an OPRA request for criminal records in Paterson, the agency must respond within seven business days. They can provide the records, deny the request with a reason, or ask for more time. If your request is denied and you believe it should not have been, you can appeal to the Government Records Council. The GRC reviews disputes between requestors and agencies across the state.
Paterson criminal records that are fully public include court docket sheets, filed complaints, indictments, and final judgments. Records of convictions are generally open to the public unless they have been expunged. Arrest records are also available in most cases, though the police may withhold details of an ongoing investigation until it is complete.
Note: The Government Records Council handles disputes about denied OPRA requests for criminal records in Paterson and across New Jersey.
Passaic County Criminal Records
Paterson is in Passaic County, and all indictable criminal cases are filed at the Passaic County Superior Court. The county court serves all municipalities in the area, with Paterson being the largest city and the county seat. For more details on county court operations, criminal records resources, and related contacts, visit the Passaic County criminal records page.