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Woodbury Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Woodbury, New Jersey?

Arrest records are public in Woodbury, New Jersey, pursuant to the New Jersey Open Public Records Act (OPRA), N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq. This legislation establishes the public's right to access government records maintained by public agencies, including those pertaining to arrests made by the Woodbury Police Department. The statute promotes governmental transparency and accountability by ensuring citizens have access to records documenting law enforcement activities. While these records are generally accessible, certain exemptions exist under OPRA § 47:1A-1.1 to protect ongoing investigations, juvenile records, and personal privacy in specific circumstances as determined by statute.

Members of the public seeking arrest records should be aware that while the records are public by law, access procedures must follow established protocols. The Woodbury Police Department serves as the custodian of these records and processes requests in accordance with statutory guidelines. Requestors must submit formal applications through the designated records custodian at the department.

How to Look Up Woodbury Arrest Records in 2025

The Woodbury Police Department maintains arrest records and provides multiple methods for public access. Individuals seeking arrest information may utilize the following official channels:

Submit an Open Public Records Request to the Woodbury Police Department. Requests must be made on the official OPRA form and submitted to the records custodian.
Visit the Woodbury Police Department in person to file a records request:

Woodbury Police Department
220 S Broad Street
Woodbury, NJ 08096
Non-Emergency Telephone: (856) 845-0064
Official Police Department Website
Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Check the police blotter for recent arrest information, which is regularly updated with basic details of police activity.
Contact the Deptford Township Joint Municipal Court for arrest records related to cases processed through the municipal court system:

Deptford Township Joint Municipal Court
1011 Cooper Street
Deptford, NJ 08096
Telephone: (856) 845-2000
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5, the custodian of government records must respond to OPRA requests within seven business days. Requestors should note that fees may apply for document reproduction in accordance with N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5(b).

Contents of a Woodbury Arrest Record

Arrest records maintained by the Woodbury Police Department typically contain comprehensive information about the arrest incident and the individual taken into custody. Standard elements included in these official documents are as follows:

Biographical information of the arrested individual, including full legal name, date of birth, address, and any documented aliases
Physical descriptors such as height, weight, eye color, hair color, and identifying marks or tattoos
Date, time, and specific location of the arrest
Statutory charges filed at the time of arrest, with reference to applicable New Jersey Criminal Code sections
Name and badge number of the arresting officer(s)
Incident report number and booking information
Custody status following arrest (released on own recognizance, bail amount set, detained)
Mugshot photographs taken during the booking process
Fingerprint records collected at processing
Preliminary court appearance information

The level of detail contained in publicly accessible versions of these records may be limited by privacy protections established under N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1. Certain sensitive information, such as Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, and medical information, is typically redacted from public copies in accordance with statutory requirements.

Legal Framework for Public Access to Arrest Records

The accessibility of arrest records in Woodbury is governed by a comprehensive legal framework that balances public transparency with individual privacy rights. The New Jersey Open Public Records Act (OPRA), codified at N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq., establishes the foundational right of access to government records, including those pertaining to arrests.

Under N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1, the legislature has declared that "government records shall be readily accessible for inspection, copying, or examination by the citizens of this State, with certain exceptions, for the protection of the public interest." This statutory mandate applies to the Woodbury Police Department as a public agency.

Key provisions affecting arrest record access include:

N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5 establishes procedures for requesting records, including time frames for agency response
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1 defines exemptions to public access, including ongoing investigation materials
N.J.S.A. 2A:4A-60 provides special protections for juvenile records
Executive Order No. 69 (Whitman, 1997) addresses the confidentiality of certain criminal investigatory records

The Criminal History Record Information Act, N.J.S.A. 53:1-20.1 et seq., further regulates the dissemination of criminal history record information, establishing additional parameters for access to comprehensive criminal history data beyond single arrest records.

Members of the public denied access to records may appeal such decisions through procedures outlined in N.J.S.A. 47:1A-6, which provides for review by the Government Records Council or the New Jersey Superior Court.

Expungement of Arrest Records in Woodbury

The expungement process in Woodbury allows for the removal of arrest records from public access under specific circumstances prescribed by New Jersey law. Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2C:52-1 et seq., individuals may petition for expungement of arrest records when certain statutory conditions are met.

Eligibility criteria for expungement of arrest records include:

Arrests that did not result in conviction
Successful completion of Pre-Trial Intervention (PTI) or other diversionary programs
Certain disorderly persons offenses after a waiting period of 5 years
Certain indictable offenses after a waiting period of 6 years
Cannabis-related offenses under the provisions of N.J.S.A. 2C:52-5.1

The expungement procedure requires filing a petition with the Superior Court in the county where the arrest occurred. For Woodbury arrests, petitions must be filed with:

Gloucester County Superior Court
1 North Broad Street
Woodbury, NJ 08096
Telephone: (856) 686-7500
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

The petition must include certified copies of all relevant court documents, fingerprint verification, and filing fees as prescribed by court rules. Upon review, if the court grants the expungement, an order is issued directing all relevant agencies to remove records from public access.

Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2C:52-15, expunged records are segregated and not destroyed. Access to expunged records is strictly limited to circumstances enumerated in N.J.S.A. 2C:52-17 through 2C:52-23, such as when the subject applies for employment in law enforcement or the judiciary.

The "Clean Slate" law, N.J.S.A. 2C:52-5.3, enacted in 2019, provides for automated expungement of certain records after 10 years without subsequent conviction, though implementation of this provision remains in development.

Limitations on Use of Arrest Record Information

The utilization of arrest record information obtained from Woodbury public records is subject to significant legal restrictions designed to prevent discrimination and protect individual rights. The New Jersey Opportunity to Compete Act ("Ban the Box"), N.J.S.A. 34:6B-11 et seq., prohibits employers from inquiring about an applicant's criminal history during the initial employment application process.

Additional limitations on the use of arrest records include:

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq.) restricts how consumer reporting agencies may report arrest records
New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (N.J.S.A. 10:5-1 et seq.) prohibits discrimination based on expunged criminal records
N.J.S.A. 2C:52-30 makes it a disorderly persons offense to reveal expunged records when not authorized by statute
Housing providers receiving federal funding must comply with HUD guidance on the use of arrest records in housing decisions

Public agencies and private entities accessing arrest records must ensure compliance with these statutory provisions. Unauthorized disclosure or improper use of arrest information may result in civil liability or administrative penalties as prescribed by applicable statutes.

The Woodbury Police Department maintains arrest records in accordance with the retention schedules established by the New Jersey Division of Archives and Records Management pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:3-26.