New Jersey Inmate Records

New Jersey inmate records are official files containing information about individuals incarcerated within the state's prison system. The state has one of the lowest incarceration rates in the United States, with an imprisonment rate of 137 per 100,000 residents, which is lower than the national average of 355 per 100,000 people. On average, about 12,500 inmates are housed in state-run correctional facilities, approximately 7,900 in county jails, and around 2,300 in federal prisons in New Jersey. Each managing authority of these correctional facilities is responsible for keeping records of all inmates under their supervision.

The following are some of the details anyone can find in a typical New Jersey inmate record:

• Inmate's Personal Information - These include name, address, date of birth, identifying marks and descriptors (scars, hair color, eye color, weight, height, or tattoos), race, mugshot, SBI number (inmate number), and gender.
• Incarceration History - This shows the inmate's date in custody and date out of custody.
• Details of Current Prison Sentence - These include the inmate's offense. Offense date, sentence date, county of commitment, commitment order, mandatory minimum term, and maximum term.
• Sentencing Information and Parole Details - These include the admission date, current facility, and current parole eligibility date.
• Release Information - The current maximum release date.
• Arrest Details - These include the charges filed, the arrest warrant, the date of the arrest, the arresting agency information, and the location of the arrest.
• Court Information - This generally includes trial details, the case number, fines, and the court's judgments.

Are Inmate Records Public in New Jersey?

Inmate records are public records in New Jersey and are publicly accessible under the state's Open Records Act (OPRA) unless sealed, expunged, or restricted by law. While these records are considered public documents, certain state laws govern how to use them to prevent misuse and protect individual privacy.

In addition to sealed or expunged arrest records, some details included in New Jersey inmate records may be restricted from public disclosure. These include medical information, financial data, social security numbers, details of minors, and driver's license numbers. Only authorized individuals or agencies may access such information.

What Agencies Are Responsible for Inmate Records in New Jersey?

Some of the agencies maintaining New Jersey inmate records are listed below:

• The New Jersey Department of Corrections (DOC) - The New Jersey Department of Corrections(DOC) oversees inmates incarcerated in state-run correctional facilities, manages each prison facility, and keeps records of all the inmates under its jurisdiction. It is in charge of about 9 correctional facilities, one assessment center, and 11 Residential Community Release Program Facilities (RCRP).
• Police Departments - Local police departments typically keep all records of arrests, including the ones that led to individuals' convictions. While police departments do not technically manage correctional facilities or keep inmate records, the arrest records they have on file are a part of inmate records maintained by other relevant agencies in the state.
• County Sheriff's Offices - New Jersey's local jails are primarily managed by the county sheriff's offices, whose responsibilities also include keeping records of inmates incarcerated in those jails. Each county in the state oversees at least one local jail. This means there are at least 21 county jails in New Jersey that hold individuals awaiting trials or those serving shorter sentences for mild crimes.
• The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) - Persons convicted of federal crimes in New Jersey are sentenced to any of the two federal prisons in the state. These prisons are managed by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), which keeps records of all federal offenders housed in federal prisons.

How To Search For an Inmate's Information in New Jersey

Before venturing into finding an inmate's information in New Jersey, it is best to determine whether the inmate is housed in a state, local, or federal correctional facility in the state. This will help to ensure a more focused search.

Find an inmate in New Jersey State Prisons

The first place to check when looking up information about any inmate incarcerated in New Jersey state-run correctional facilities is the NJDOC Offender Search Form. The database contains records of inmates currently housed in state prisons and those who completed their custodial terms within the last year. Users can search inmates by their names or SBI numbers (inmate numbers) and then narrow down the search by selecting sex, hair color, race, ethnicity, county of commitment, and/or other available options. Typically, the search results will include the inmate's mugshot, personal information, incarceration history, details of current prison sentence, and release date.

Records of inmates incarcerated in New Jersey state-run prisons are also available at the correctional facilities where they are being housed or were incarcerated. In many cases, records obtained by visiting such facilities are usually detailed and have more information than those obtained online. Requesters will have to provide the record custodian with basic information like inmates' names, ages, and admission dates to enable them to locate sought records.

Find an Inmate in Local Jail

Most county sheriff's offices in New Jersey maintain databases of inmates in local jails and provide public access to these databases through online inmate search resources. Using the online inmate search resources offered by county sheriff's offices, interested persons may find information about inmates held in county jails as long as they know the inmates' county of incarceration. Generally, these inmate search tools allow users to search for offenders in custody by their names, date of birth, and/or inmate numbers.

Alternatively, any interested party may visit the local jail where an inmate is housed in New Jersey to obtain detailed information about them. Depending on the county, a requester may be asked to submit a written letter or complete an application form designed for that purpose. When visiting a local jail to request information about an inmate, make sure to have certain details that will help facilitate the search.

Find an Inmate in Federal Prison

To find an inmate who is housed in a federal correctional facility in New Jersey, use the BOP Inmate Locator. The Inmate Locator is an online resource that enables members of the public to locate individuals incarcerated for committing federal offenses in federal prisons from 1982 to date, including Fort Dix FCI and Fairton FCI in New Jersey. Users can find federal inmates' information using search parameters like inmates' names or their BOP register numbers.

How Can I Access Old Inmate Records?

Inmate information accessible through online resources provided by each prison authority in New Jersey typically has records of individuals who are currently being incarcerated in facilities overseen by each authority. For instance, the NJDOC's Offender Offender Search Form provides details of inmates currently housed in state-run prisons only. Similarly, various inmate search platforms maintained by county sheriff's offices in the state only have information about inmates currently incarcerated in county jails. Anyone looking to access old inmate information in the state should check the New Jersey State Archives (NJSA).

Alternatively, third-party platforms like NewJerseypublicrecords.us offer inmate search services that allow access to old inmates' records in the state. These sites typically collect information about inmates from various databases and collate them on their databases where they are never erased, making them excellent sources of old inmate records. However, users are usually required to pay a nominal fee to access detailed information on third-party sites. The National Archives may also contain old records of individuals incarcerated in federal correctional facilities in New Jersey.

Furthermore, interested persons may access old inmate records in New Jersey by visiting the exact correctional facilities where those inmates were housed while serving prison sentences or jail terms. Correctional facilities typically have physical, detailed records of old inmates on their files and will disseminate non-confidential information upon request. Anyone looking to obtain old inmate records in the state may also complete an online Open Records Act (OPRA) Request Form and submit it to the Department of Corrections.

Can I Find a New Jersey Inmate Record for Free?

Yes. However, while each prison authority in New Jersey provides free public access to records of inmates under their jurisdiction through dedicated online resources, information accessed on such sites is usually basic and prison-specific. This means that the NJDOC does not have and will not provide records of inmates housed in county jails or federal prisons. This is true for other prison authorities.

Third-party websites like NewJerseypublicrecords.us provide centralized access to records of all inmates incarcerated within the state's prison system. As one-stop databases, these sites have records of inmates currently incarcerated in correctional facilities maintained by the county sheriff's office, the New Jersey Department of Corrections (NJDOC), and the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). However, they usually charge users a small processing fee.

Jails and Prisons in New Jersey

The three categories of correctional facilities in New Jersey listed below are so designated based on how they are being managed:

• State Correctional Facilities - The New Jersey Department of Corrections (NJDOC) is in charge of state-run prison facilities in the state. These facilities include one Assessment Center, 9 correctional facilities, and 11 RCRP facilities.
• Local Jails - These are managed by the county sheriff's offices across the state. Each of the 21 sheriff's offices in New Jersey oversees at least one local jail.
• Federal Prisons - The 2 federal prisons in the state are under the purview of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP).

State Prisons in New Jersey

The table below lists the main state-operated correctional facilities in New Jersey:

Private Prisons in New Jersey

No private prisons operate in New Jersey. The state passed a law in 2021 banning the operations of private correctional facilities.

New Jersey Inmate Statistics

• New Jersey Incarceration Rate - 137 per 100,000 residents
• Male Incarceration Rate - 269 per 100,000 males
• Female Incarceration Rate - 9 per 100,000 females
• Youth Custody Rate - 40 per 100,000 youths
• Number of Prisoners in Private Prisons - 0
• Black/White Imprisonment Disparity - 12.5:1
• Latino/White Imprisonment Disparity - 2.0:1
• Number of offenders under community supervision - 1,908 per 100,000 people
• Number on probation - 1,687 per 100,000 people
• Number on parole - 215 per 100,000 people
• Felony Disenfranchisement Rate - 0.2%

* Source: United States Bureau of Justice Statistics