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  1. Hudson County Court
  2. Hudson County Arrest Records

Hudson County, New Jersey Arrest Records

Arrest records in Hudson County are official records that document arrest incidents, including the individuals involved, the reasons for the arrest, and the booking details. They are created when offenders are taken into custody. In Hudson County, arrest records are created by the arresting or booking agency (which may or may not be the same). These records promote openness and transparency and enable public oversight of law enforcement activities.

Arrest records are a type of “government record." According to the New Jersey Open Records Act (OPRA), a government record means any document, data, photograph, or information stored or maintained by a public agency in the course of its official duty. As public information subject to disclosure, OPRA establishes the guidelines and regulations for how public agencies should disseminate government records.

However, OPRA does not govern the dissemination of New Jersey Criminal History Record Information (CHRI). The New Jersey Administrative Code (N.J.A.C.) 13:59-1 et seq. is the law authorizing the release of CHRI by the New Jersey State Police (NJSP), Identification & Information Technology Section (I&ITS), and the State Bureau of Identification (SBI) for noncriminal justice purposes.

Note that agencies that may maintain arrest records in Hudson County include the sheriff’s office and/or city police departments. The Jersey City Police Department is considered the largest law enforcement agency in the county, followed by the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office.

Are Arrest Records Public Information in Hudson County, New Jersey?

Yes, arrest records are public information in Hudson County under the New Jersey Open Public Records Act (OPRA). This act, codified in N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq., establishes that, unless a government record (of which arrest records are a type) falls under specific exemptions outlined by law, it shall be subject to public access and readily accessible for inspection, copying, or examination by citizens of New Jersey.  To this effect, individuals can review or copy arrest records as public information in Hudson County.

However, to review or copy these records, a requesting party:

  • Must identify the desired record(s)
  • Must request the desired record from the agency that has the record
  • Must use the agency’s records request form to ask for the record (if available)
  • Must pay whatever applicable fee determined by the agency, state law, or rule

While not compulsory, ID may not be required by custodian agencies to provide access to records. Under OPRA, public agencies have 7 business days to respond to a valid OPRA request.

What Do Public County Arrest Records Contain?

A public Hudson County arrest record contains the following under OPRA:

  • The full name of the arrested person
  • Date of birth, gender, and physical descriptors of the arrested person
  • Date, time, and location of the arrest
  • The arresting agency and officer
  • The charges filed against the arrested person
  • The booking data (such as date, time, and number)
  • Bail/bond amount
  • The facility where the individual is held
  • Release date (if applicable) 
  • Photograph (mug shot)

While the information listed above is public in arrest records, the following information or data is restricted from public access under OPRA exemptions for the protection of privacy, safety, and integrity of ongoing law enforcement investigations: victim's information, criminal investigatory information/records, information sealed by court order, personal identifying information (e.g., social security number, credit card number, unlisted telephone number, or driver's license number), and medical information.  Additionally, juvenile-related information is exempt from disclosure in government records (N.J.S.A. 2A:4A-60).

Hudson County,  New Jersey Arrest Search

Individuals seeking Hudson County arrest records at the state level should request a criminal history record from the New Jersey State Police (NJSP). The NJSP, as the custodian of the statewide Criminal History Record Information (CHRI), provides comprehensive criminal history records to individuals, government entities, and others. A criminal history record includes all arrest and charge information.  

In addition, individuals can use the “Offender Search” form provided by the New Jersey Department of Corrections to find and lookup the arrest/booking records of inmates in state correctional facilities. The form allows searchers to search by the inmate’s SBI number, first name, and last name. It also allows those performing a search to specify the county of commitment. This refers to the county where the inmate was tried and convicted. Other search criteria include the inmate’s age, ethnicity, race, eye color, hair color, and sex.

As for federal resources for arrest information, record seekers should use the federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) inmate locator to find and review records of individuals in federal custody. The locator is free and allows searches by name or number (including BOP Register Number, DCDC Number, FBI Number, and INS Number). 

Hudson County Inmate Locator

Hudson County does not offer an inmate locator or portal for members of the public to locate and review arrest records of individuals booked into custody at the county’s Correctional Center. To find an inmate’s arrest records, interested persons should contact the Record Room—Hudson County Correctional Center—at (201) 395-5600 ext. 5082/5083 or visit the facility in person at 30-35 South Hackensack Ave., Kearny, NJ 07032-4690.

Interested persons may also submit OPRA requests for arrest and local criminal records to the Hudson County Sheriff's Office Records Bureau. Requests should be made in person at the Records Bureau, 257 Cornelison Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07302. The office hours are Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. For inquiries, contact the Records Bureau at (201) 915-1300, extension 7082.

The Hudson County Sheriff’s Office operates three (3) offices. The location and addresses are listed below.

Hudson Plaza

257 Cornelison Avenue

Jersey City, NJ 07302

Administration Building

595 Newark Avenue

Jersey City, NJ 07306

Meadowview Campus

595 County Avenue

Secaucus, NJ 07094

Phone #1: (201) 915-1300 (Non-emergency)

Phone #2: (201) 795-6300 (non-emergency)

Active Warrant Search in Hudson County

An arrest warrant is a court order issued by a judicial officer authorizing law enforcement officers to apprehend an individual. It is issued for a person’s arrest based on sworn oral testimony and an affidavit that establishes evidence or probable cause to believe the defendant has committed or is committing a criminal offense (New Jersey Court Rule 3:2-3). Under New Jersey law, judicial officers who can issue arrest warrants include the judge, clerk (or deputy clerk), and authorized municipal court administrator (or their deputy).

According to Rule 3:2-3(a), the information in a warrant includes the defendant's name (or, if that is unknown, any name or description that identifies the defendant with reasonable certainty), the basis for the warrant (alleged offense/charge), the date, the signature of the judicial officer, and the order to arrest and remand the named person to the county jail pending the determination of pretrial release conditions. In Hudson County, arrest warrants are executed by authorized law enforcement officers, commonly the Hudson County Sheriff’s officers and police department officers. 

To inquire about active/outstanding warrants in the county, interested persons should contact the sheriff’s office. In addition, inquiries can be directed to the local police department that requested the warrant. However, note that law enforcement agencies may refuse to disclose details about active warrants under OPRA if disclosure would jeopardize ongoing investigations or actions.

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Hudson County

Individuals seeking to find arrest records for free in Hudson County should contact the Hudson County Correctional Center (Record Room) at (201) 395-5600 ext. 5082/5083 or visit the facility in person at 30-35 South Hackensack Ave., Kearny, NJ 07032-4690. The correctional center maintains booking records of inmates that interested persons may inspect or review under OPRA without fees. 

Additionally, interested persons may submit an in-person inspection or review request to the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office (Records Bureau) for arrest information. Under OPRA, the sheriff’s office is required to provide public access to arrest information. While copying requests attracts charges, inspection/review requests typically do not.

Hudson County Sheriff’s Office (Records Bureau)

257 Cornelison Avenue,

Jersey City, NJ 07302

Phone: (201) 915-1300, extension 7082

Alternatively, third-party sites and online state resources such as the “Offender Search” form offered by the New Jersey DOC can be used to find arrest records in Hudson County for free. While third-party aggregate sites may prove useful in finding Hudson County arrest records online at no cost, they should be used with caution. As unofficial resources, these sites are likely to contain outdated or limited information.

Hudson County Arrest Report

In Hudson County, an arrest record is not the only official record related to the apprehension and incarceration of individuals maintained by law enforcement agencies. They also maintain arrest reports, which are totally different from arrest records. 

While an arrest record is typically an agency summary entry of booking events, an arrest report (often referred to as an ‘incident report’) is an official document prepared or generated by an officer following an arrest to give their first-hand account of the arrest event, including key details such as the individual, the circumstances of the arrest, time, location, and the officer’s observation. An arrest report is particularly narrative in nature and covers only one arrest incident.

However, like arrest records, arrest reports are considered public information and may be requested from the arresting agency.

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Hudson County

In New Jersey, an expungement is the extraction, sealing, impounding, or isolation of a record/information file within a court, detention/correctional facility, law enforcement agency, or any other criminal justice agency concerning a person’s arrest, detention, trial, or disposition (N.J.S.A. 2C:52-1). Expungement in Hudson County is governed by N.J.S.A. 2C:52-1 et seq., and eligible arrest records include:

  • Arrests not resulting in conviction under N.J.S.A. 2C:52-6. Examples include those in which no charges were filed, charges were dismissed, or the arrestee was acquitted or found not guilty.
  • Arrest records of individuals convicted of indictable offenses (N.J.S.A. 2C:52-2), disorderly persons offenses (N.J.S.A. 2C:52-3), and ordinance offenses (N.J.S.A. 2C:52-4). To expunge, these persons must wait five years after their sentence for indictable and disorderly persons offenses and two years for ordinances. Expungement here is limited to one indictable conviction and up to three disorderly persons offenses or petty disorderly persons offenses.
  • Juvenile delinquency records under N.J.S.A. 2C:52-4.1.

To expunge arrest records in Hudson County, arrestees should obtain their Criminal History Record Information (CHRI) from the New Jersey State Police (NJSP), identify eligible records for expungement, complete the appropriate application form, and file the application with the Superior Court in Hudson County. In most cases, a court appearance may not be required to determine the application.

If granted, the expungement order will be transmitted to all criminal justice agencies responsible for removing the expunged records from their files. These include the arresting agency, the New Jersey State Police (CNJSP), and courthouses.

How Do You Remove Hudson County Arrest Records From the Internet?

Individuals should take the following steps to remove arrest records from the internet:

  • Determine the eligibility of the records for expungement
  • Apply for court-ordered expungement if the records are eligible
  • Monitor all responsible criminal justice agencies to ensure the record removal in compliance with the expungement order (if granted). For example, the NJSP Expungement Status Portal
  • Write to any agency that still has the records on the internet, including a copy of the expungement order
  • Also, contact third-party aggregator sites directly with a copy of the expungement order to demand removal of the expunged records.