Atlantic County Criminal Records

Atlantic County criminal records are held at the Superior Court in Mays Landing, New Jersey. The Criminal Division processes criminal case filings, criminal dockets, and court records for Atlantic County. This county is part of the Atlantic/Cape May Vicinage, which serves both counties under one court system. Anyone who needs to search criminal records in Atlantic County can do so through the court clerk, online criminal record portals, or formal record requests. The county seat sits in Mays Landing, where criminal case files are stored and maintained by court staff.

Atlantic County Criminal Court Records

The Superior Court Criminal Division in Atlantic County manages all criminal case records at the Mays Landing courthouse. This office handles filings, dockets, and case files for criminal matters. Reach the Criminal Division at 609-402-0100, extension 47310. Jason Wertzberger is the Criminal Division Manager for Atlantic County. Melissa McGee assists with record requests at extension 47289. Both can answer questions about criminal cases and court records in Atlantic County.

The Atlantic County courthouse is at 4997 Unami Blvd in Mays Landing, NJ 08330. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Walk in to request criminal records during these hours. The court stores case files, dockets, decrees, judgments, and pleadings for criminal matters in Atlantic County. Copies of court records cost $0.50 to $5 per page depending on the document type.

The Atlantic County Superior Court page on the New Jersey Courts website has full details about the Criminal Division and criminal record access.

Atlantic County and Cape May County share one vicinage. Criminal records for Atlantic County cases are filed at the Mays Landing court. Cape May cases go to a different location. If a case took place near the Atlantic County border, check which court holds the record. The Criminal Division staff in Atlantic County can help you confirm where a case was filed.

Note: The Criminal Division extension for Atlantic County is 47310, and the Expungement Clerk can be reached at extension 47293.

How to Search Criminal Records in Atlantic County

Several methods exist for searching criminal records in Atlantic County. The fastest way to find criminal case data is the PROMIS/Gavel system. This criminal record search tool is run by the New Jersey Courts. Go to the PROMIS/Gavel portal to search criminal records by name or criminal case number. The system covers criminal cases across every New Jersey county, including Atlantic County criminal records.

For a personal criminal history check in Atlantic County, you must use the New Jersey State Police system. The NJSP requires a Live Scan fingerprint submission. The fee is $42 for a criminal record check. Call the NJSP at (609) 882-2000, extension 2918 for details. Visit the NJSP Criminal Records portal to start your request. Atlantic County criminal records are part of the statewide database.

The StateRecords page for Atlantic County compiles criminal record data from multiple public sources, offering another way to find criminal records in Atlantic County.

You can also search criminal records at the Atlantic County courthouse in person. Bring a valid ID. Ask the clerk to look up records by name or docket number. The staff in Atlantic County can pull up case files, arrest records, and conviction records. Older records may take more time to locate. The clerk handles criminal record requests daily and can guide you through what is on file.

Atlantic County Criminal Records and Public Access

Criminal records in Atlantic County fall under the Open Public Records Act. Under N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1, most government records are public. Criminal case files at the Atlantic County Superior Court are included. You can file an OPRA request to get copies of criminal court records, criminal case dockets, and other criminal case documents from Atlantic County.

Copy costs for Atlantic County criminal records under OPRA are low. The records custodian in Atlantic County has 7 business days to respond. You do not need to give a reason for your request. Under Court Rule 1:38, court records are open to anyone in Atlantic County. Standard fees for criminal record copies include:

• Letter-size page: $0.05
• Legal-size page: $0.07
• Certified copy: $15 per document
• Seal: $10 per document

Some criminal records are restricted in Atlantic County. Sealed criminal records cannot be accessed. Expunged criminal records in Atlantic County are off limits too. Juvenile arrest records are closed. Psychiatric records tied to a criminal case may be redacted. The clerk will tell you if any criminal record you request is restricted.

The New Jersey Court Records page for Atlantic County has more information about accessing criminal court records in Atlantic County.

Note: Certified copies of Atlantic County criminal records cost $15 each, and the seal fee is $10 per document.

Expungement of Criminal Records in Atlantic County

Expungement seals criminal records from public view. In Atlantic County, the Expungement Clerk handles criminal record expungement petitions. Call 609-402-0100, extension 47293 to reach the Atlantic County expungement office. The filing fee is $75 to expunge a criminal record in Atlantic County.

New Jersey law sets waiting periods for criminal record expungement. Under N.J.S.A. 2C:52-2, most indictable criminal convictions require a 5 or 6 year wait after completing your sentence. Disorderly persons convictions have a 5 year wait under N.J.S.A. 2C:52-3. The Clean Slate Act allows earlier expungement of some criminal records. Drug court graduates in Atlantic County may qualify for faster criminal record expungement. Atlantic County runs both a drug court and a mental health court. Completion of these programs can speed up the expungement of criminal records.

Visit the NJSP Expungement portal to check if your Atlantic County criminal record qualifies for expungement. Once a judge grants expungement, your criminal records in Atlantic County are sealed. All agencies that hold your criminal record must remove it from public criminal record databases.

Historical Criminal Records for Atlantic County

The New Jersey State Archives holds older Atlantic County court records. These include Court of Common Pleas records and Naturalization Records from 1837 to 1951. The Court of Common Pleas handled some criminal cases in Atlantic County during that era. Visit the State Archives catalog to search what criminal and court records are available for Atlantic County.

For more recent criminal records, the Atlantic County Superior Court is the best source. The court keeps criminal case files going back several decades. Staff can help locate older criminal records in Atlantic County if you have a name or rough date range. Historical criminal records from Atlantic County provide a look at past criminal cases, arrest records, and court proceedings in the region. These criminal court records document the criminal justice history of Atlantic County.

Atlantic County Criminal Justice Offices

The Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office handles all indictable criminal offenses. Their office is at 4997 Unami Blvd in Mays Landing. Call (609) 909-7800. The prosecutor reviews criminal cases, presents charges to grand juries, and pursues convictions at trial. Case records from the prosecutor become part of the Atlantic County court file.

Several offices handle different parts of the criminal justice process in Atlantic County. Each keeps its own records related to criminal cases:

• Prosecutor's Office: 4997 Unami Blvd, Mays Landing, (609) 909-7800
• Sheriff's Office: 1201 Bacharach Blvd, Atlantic City, (609) 909-7200
• County Clerk: 5901 Main Street, Mays Landing, (609) 625-4011

The Atlantic County Sheriff's Office serves criminal warrants, handles court security, and transports defendants. Warrant records are maintained by the Sheriff. Arrest records start with local police but connect to the criminal case file at the Atlantic County court. The County Clerk does not hold criminal records directly, but fines or restitution from criminal judgments may result in liens recorded at the Atlantic County Clerk's office.

Note: The Atlantic County Prosecutor also handles municipal court criminal appeals and juvenile criminal matters.

Drug Court and Criminal Diversion in Atlantic County

Atlantic County operates specialty courts for certain criminal cases. The drug court program lets eligible defendants enter treatment instead of prison. If a defendant completes drug court in Atlantic County, the charges may be dismissed. This changes the criminal record. Instead of a conviction, the Atlantic County record shows a dismissal. Drug court records are still part of the case file, but the outcome is different from a standard conviction.

The mental health court in Atlantic County serves defendants with diagnosed mental health conditions. Like drug court, it focuses on treatment. Records from mental health court in Atlantic County are maintained at the Superior Court in Mays Landing. These case records show program completion rather than a guilty verdict. Contact the Atlantic County Criminal Division at 609-402-0100 for information about how these programs affect criminal records.

Cities in Atlantic County

Atlantic County has 23 municipalities. All criminal cases for these areas go to the Superior Court in Mays Landing. Major cities include Atlantic City, Egg Harbor Township, Galloway, Hamilton Township, Hammonton, Pleasantville, Ventnor City, Absecon, Linwood, and Brigantine. Each has a municipal court for minor criminal offenses. Indictable criminal cases in Atlantic County are handled at the county court. Criminal records from all Atlantic County municipalities end up at the same courthouse.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Atlantic County. Criminal records are filed in the county where the criminal offense took place. Check the case location to find the right court for your criminal record search.