Union County Criminal Records

Union County criminal records are stored at the Superior Court on Broad Street in Elizabeth, New Jersey. The county has a population of about 575,000 and sits in the northeastern part of the state. The Criminal Division manages all indictable case files for Union County. The Sheriff's Bureau of Criminal Identification also plays a major role in how criminal records are created and stored. Multiple offices across the county work together to process, file, and give the public access to criminal records in Union County.

Union County Superior Court Criminal Division

The Union County Superior Court is at 2 Broad Street in Elizabeth, NJ 07207. Call 908-787-1650 or 908-659-4660 to reach the courthouse. The Criminal Division Manager is at 908-659-4662. The court handles all indictable criminal cases for Union County.

Elizabeth is the county seat and one of the largest cities in New Jersey. The courthouse complex on Broad Street serves every municipality in Union County. Staff can search criminal records by name or docket number. Walk-in visitors need a valid photo ID. You can fill out a records request form at the clerk window. Copies of criminal records cost a small per-page fee. Certified copies cost more and include the court seal.

The Union County Vicinage page on the New Jersey Courts website lists every division, phone number, and office location at the courthouse.

Union County runs a 24-hour arraignment court at the Elizabeth courthouse. This means criminal cases start processing around the clock. New arrests produce criminal records at any hour. The court also uses the NJ Judiciary Records Request Form for online submissions, which makes it easier to request criminal records from Union County without visiting in person.

Sheriff Bureau of Criminal Identification

The Union County Sheriff runs the Bureau of Criminal Identification, known as BCI. This office is the central repository for criminal files in Union County. The BCI stores fingerprints, pedigree information, and photographs for all arrests processed through the county. Visit the BCI page on the Union County website for details about this office and its services.

The BCI also processes DNA samples for the CODIS database. When someone is convicted of certain crimes in Union County, the Sheriff collects a DNA sample that goes into this national system. The office enters more than 12,000 warrants each year into the National Crime Information Center. They also use a system called PictureLink.Net, which gives law enforcement offsite access to booking photos and criminal record data from Union County.

This bureau is a key part of how criminal records move from a local arrest to state and federal databases. Every person booked in Union County goes through the BCI. Their fingerprints and photo are stored digitally. This data feeds into the statewide criminal records system kept by the New Jersey State Police.

Searching Criminal Records in Union County Online

The PROMIS/Gavel system is the primary online tool for searching criminal records in Union County. This free portal covers all criminal cases in the state. Search by name or docket number. Results include charges, court dates, and case outcomes. No registration is needed.

The Union County records page is another resource for looking up public criminal records and court data. This site provides information on what is available and how to access it.

You can also view criminal case records through municipal courts in Union County. Elizabeth Municipal Court at 1 Police Plaza handles a large volume of cases. Call (908) 558-6800 for that court. Municipal courts deal with disorderly persons offenses and ordinance violations, while the Superior Court handles indictable crimes.

For in-person searches, go to 2 Broad Street in Elizabeth. Bring your ID and fill out a request form. Staff will search criminal records while you wait for most current cases. Older files may take longer to retrieve.

Note: PROMIS/Gavel shows court records only and does not include arrest records that did not result in charges being filed in Union County.

Public Access Rules for Criminal Records

Court Rule 1:38 makes most criminal records in Union County open to anyone. You do not need to be a party to the case. You do not need to explain why you want the records. The clerk must let you view any criminal file that is not sealed or restricted.

OPRA provides a second path. Under the Open Public Records Act, you can file a formal request with any Union County office that holds criminal records. The custodian has 7 business days to respond. The Government Records Council page outlines the process and what to do if your request is denied.

• Complaints and arrest warrants
• Indictments and grand jury results
• Plea agreements and trial outcomes
• Sentencing orders and probation terms
• Judgment entries and case dispositions

All of the above are part of a public criminal record in Union County. Restricted items include sealed files, juvenile records, expunged criminal records, and medical or psychiatric reports in a case file.

Union County Prosecutor and Criminal Cases

The Union County Prosecutor's Office is in the Tower Building at 2 Broad Street, 7th Floor, in Elizabeth. Call (908) 527-4500 to reach them. The Prosecutor handles all indictable criminal offenses in Union County. This office reviews every arrest, decides what charges to file, and presents cases to the grand jury.

When charges are filed, the criminal record in Union County grows with each court event. The indictment, motions, plea or trial result, and sentence all become part of the file. The Prosecutor also reviews expungement petitions and can object to sealing criminal records. Their position carries weight with the judge at the hearing.

Union County has implemented bail reform differently than some of its neighbors. Under the Criminal Justice Reform Act, a risk assessment tool helps judges decide pretrial release conditions. This process creates additional documents in the criminal record, including the public safety assessment and the judge's release order.

Note: The Prosecutor coordinates with more than 20 municipal police departments across Union County to build criminal cases.

Expunging Criminal Records in Union County

Union County handles expungement petitions at the Superior Court in Elizabeth. The expungement clerk can be reached at 908-787-1650, extension 21079. The filing fee is $75. An expunged criminal record is sealed from public view. Under N.J.S.A. 2C:52-1, it is treated as though it never happened.

Indictable offenses need a wait of 5 to 10 years after the sentence ends. Disorderly persons offenses have a 5 year wait. The Clean Slate Act has expanded automatic expungement for certain older criminal records. Drug court graduates may qualify sooner. The NJSP expungement portal helps you check if your criminal record qualifies.

The petition goes to the Union County Superior Court. You pay the fee, get fingerprinted, and attend a hearing. The Prosecutor and victims may speak. A judge decides. If granted, every agency holding your criminal record in Union County must seal it. The BCI at the Sheriff's Office is one of the offices that must comply with an expungement order.

Cities in Union County

Union County has 21 municipalities. All indictable criminal cases from these towns are filed at the Superior Court in Elizabeth. Each town runs its own municipal court for minor offenses, but serious criminal matters go to the county level.

Other towns in Union County include Linden, Rahway, Westfield, Cranford, Summit, Scotch Plains, and Roselle. All indictable criminal records from these areas are stored at the Union County Superior Court in Elizabeth.

Nearby Counties

Union County borders several other New Jersey counties. Criminal records are filed where the offense took place. Confirm the location before you request records from a neighboring county.