>Sussex County Arrest Records Online

Sussex County, New Jersey Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Sussex County, New Jersey?

Arrest records are public in Sussex County, New Jersey, pursuant to the New Jersey Open Public Records Act (OPRA), N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq. This legislation establishes that government records, including arrest records, shall be readily accessible for inspection, copying, or examination by citizens of New Jersey, with certain exceptions as prescribed by law. The public nature of these records serves the legislative intent of ensuring government transparency and accountability.

The Sussex County Sheriff's Office maintains arrest records as part of its statutory duties under N.J.S.A. 40A:9-117. These records document the formal apprehension and detention of individuals suspected of violating state or local laws. While the records are generally accessible, certain information may be redacted to protect ongoing investigations or the privacy of victims, particularly in cases involving domestic violence or sexual offenses, as mandated by N.J.S.A. 2A:82-46.

Members of the public seeking access to arrest records must submit requests in compliance with established procedures, which may include completing an OPRA request form and paying applicable fees as permitted under N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5.

Can Arrest Records be Found Online in Sussex County?

Sussex County arrest records are available through various online platforms, though the scope and currency of information may vary across different resources. The New Jersey Judiciary provides electronic access to certain court records through its public portal system, which includes information on criminal cases originating from arrests in Sussex County.

The Sussex County Sheriff's Office maintains a digital database of current wanted persons and recent arrests, accessible through their official website. This resource is updated regularly but may not include comprehensive historical data. Additionally, the Sussex County Clerk's Office provides online access to various public records, though certain arrest-related documents may require in-person retrieval.

Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 13:59-1.1 et seq., the New Jersey State Police also maintains the Criminal Justice Information System, which contains arrest record information. While not all components of this system are directly accessible to the public online, certain information may be obtained through proper channels and authorized third-party vendors.

Users of online arrest record systems should note that N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5(g) permits custodians of government records to impose special service charges for requests requiring extraordinary time or effort to accommodate.

How to Look Up Sussex County Arrest Records in 2025

Members of the public seeking Sussex County arrest records in 2025 have multiple avenues available for conducting searches. The following methods are authorized under current New Jersey public records statutes:

Sussex County Sheriff's Office: Individuals may submit requests directly to the Records Division at the Sheriff's Office.

Sussex County Sheriff's Office
39 High Street
Newton, NJ 07860
Phone: (973) 579-0850
Official Website

Office hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, excluding holidays.
Sussex County Clerk's Office: The County Clerk maintains certain public records that may include arrest-related information.

Sussex County Clerk
Sussex County Administrative Center
One Spring Street
Newton, NJ 07860
Phone: (973) 579-0900
Official Website

Office hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, excluding holidays.
New Jersey State Police: For statewide criminal history information, requests may be submitted to the State Bureau of Identification.

New Jersey State Police - Records and Identification Section
P.O. Box 7068
West Trenton, NJ 08628
Phone: (609) 882-2000
Criminal History Records Information

Office hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, excluding holidays.
Online Judiciary Portal: The New Jersey Courts provide electronic access to criminal case information through their public portal.

Requestors should note that pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5(f), custodians may require the payment of applicable fees before releasing records. Additionally, certain records may be subject to redaction under exemptions specified in N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1.

Contents of a Sussex County Arrest Record

Sussex County arrest records contain standardized information as prescribed by N.J.A.C. 13:74-1.1 et seq. and other applicable regulations. These official documents typically include the following elements:

Full legal name of the arrested individual and any documented aliases
Demographic information including date of birth, gender, and physical descriptors
Date, time, and specific location of the arrest
Statutory charges filed, with reference to applicable New Jersey Criminal Code sections
Name and badge number of the arresting officer(s)
Arresting agency identification
Booking information, including fingerprint classification data
Detention status and bail determination
Case or docket number assigned by the judiciary
Preliminary hearing date, if scheduled

Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2A:4A-60, records pertaining to juvenile arrests are subject to stricter confidentiality provisions and may not be included in publicly accessible arrest records. Similarly, records related to expunged arrests, as governed by N.J.S.A. 2C:52-1 et seq., are removed from public access and sealed by court order.

The Sussex County Sheriff's Office maintains these records in accordance with the retention schedules established by the New Jersey Division of Archives and Records Management under N.J.S.A. 47:3-26.

Expungement of Arrest Records in Sussex County

The expungement process in Sussex County operates under the authority of N.J.S.A. 2C:52-1 through 2C:52-32, which provides a mechanism for the removal of arrests and related records from public access under qualifying circumstances. Individuals seeking expungement must file a petition with the Superior Court of New Jersey, Sussex County Vicinage.

Sussex County Superior Court
Sussex County Judicial Center
43-47 High Street
Newton, NJ 07860
Phone: (973) 579-0610
New Jersey Courts

Office hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, excluding holidays.

Eligibility criteria for expungement in Sussex County include:

Dismissal of charges without conviction
Successful completion of Pre-Trial Intervention or other diversionary programs
Conviction of certain disorderly persons offenses after a specified waiting period
Conviction of certain indictable offenses after statutory waiting periods
Arrest records without subsequent conviction

The expungement petition must be filed with the court in the county where the arrest or prosecution occurred. Upon granting of an expungement order, all records related to the arrest are removed from public access and sealed. Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2C:52-27, an expunged record is not considered to have occurred for most purposes, though certain exceptions exist for specific employment sectors and licensing authorities.

Individuals should note that recent amendments to New Jersey's expungement laws have expanded eligibility and, in some cases, reduced waiting periods. The "Clean Slate" provision, codified at N.J.S.A. 2C:52-5.4, provides for automatic expungement of certain offenses after a 10-year period without subsequent convictions.