Burlington County Arrest Records
Are Arrest Records Public in Burlington County
Arrest records in Burlington County, New Jersey are considered public records under the New Jersey Open Public Records Act (N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1). This statute establishes that government records shall be readily accessible for inspection, copying, or examination by citizens of New Jersey, with certain exceptions for confidentiality, privacy, and security concerns.
The distinction between arrest records and conviction records is significant in Burlington County:
- Arrest records document the apprehension and processing of individuals suspected of criminal activity, regardless of whether charges were filed or convictions obtained
- Conviction records document the final disposition of criminal cases resulting in a guilty verdict or plea
According to N.J.S.A. 47:1A-3, specific information regarding criminal investigations must be made available to the public within 24 hours or as soon as practicable of a request. This includes:
- Information about the arrest (time, location)
- The circumstances immediately surrounding the arrest
- The identity of the investigating and arresting personnel and agency
- Information about any charges filed
However, certain information may be redacted or withheld if disclosure would:
- Jeopardize the safety of any person
- Compromise an ongoing investigation
- Reveal investigatory techniques
- Violate a specific exemption under state or federal law
The New Jersey State Police maintains policies governing law enforcement records access in accordance with state regulations and the Criminal Justice Information Systems Security Policy.
What's in Burlington County Arrest Records
Burlington County arrest records contain standardized information documenting the apprehension and processing of individuals. These records typically include:
Arrestee Identifying Information:
- Full legal name (including aliases or known nicknames)
- Date of birth
- Physical description (height, weight, eye color, hair color)
- Home address
- Identifying numbers (driver's license, state ID)
- Fingerprints and photographs (mugshots)
- Gender and race
Arrest Details:
- Date and time of arrest
- Location of arrest
- Arresting agency and officer identification
- Reason for arrest
- Use of force documentation (if applicable)
- Miranda rights acknowledgment
Charge Information:
- Criminal charges filed
- Statute numbers of alleged violations
- Charge classification (felony, misdemeanor, disorderly persons offense)
- Charge severity level
- Case/docket numbers
Warrant Information (if applicable):
- Warrant number and type
- Issuing authority
- Date issued
- Serving officer
Booking Information:
- Processing date and time
- Booking officer
- Property inventory
- Medical screening results
- Detention facility
Bond/Bail Information:
- Bail amount set
- Bail conditions
- Release status
- Bail hearing date
Court Information:
- Assigned court
- Scheduled appearance dates
- Judge assignment
- Public defender assignment or private counsel information
Custody Status:
- Current detention status
- Facility location (if detained)
- Release date (if applicable)
Additional Information May Include:
- Prior criminal history references
- Probation/parole status
- Protection orders
- Known gang affiliations
- Vehicle information
- Witness statements
- Victim information (often redacted in public versions)
- Evidence collected
The specific content of arrest records may vary based on the arresting agency's protocols and the nature of the alleged offense.
How To Look Up Arrest Records in Burlington County in 2026
Members of the public seeking arrest records in Burlington County may utilize several official channels to obtain this information. The primary methods for accessing these records include:
Burlington County Sheriff's Office
49 Rancocas Road
Mount Holly, NJ 08060
Phone: (609) 265-5127
Burlington County Sheriff's Office
To request arrest records in person:
- Visit the Records Division during regular business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM)
- Complete a Public Records Request Form
- Present valid government-issued photo identification
- Pay applicable fees ($0.05 per letter-size page, $0.07 per legal-size page)
- Allow 7-10 business days for processing
For mail requests:
- Download and complete the Public Records Request Form from the county website
- Include a copy of valid government-issued photo identification
- Include a self-addressed stamped envelope
- Include payment by check or money order
- Mail to the Sheriff's Office address listed above
Burlington County Prosecutor's Office
49 Rancocas Road
Mount Holly, NJ 08060
Phone: (609) 265-5035
Burlington County Prosecutor's Office
The Prosecutor's Office maintains records related to cases they have prosecuted:
- Submit an OPRA request form specifically to the Prosecutor's Office
- Clearly identify the records being requested
- Allow up to 7 business days for a response as required by N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5(i)
New Jersey State Police
Records and Identification Section
P.O. Box 7068
West Trenton, NJ 08628
Phone: (609) 882-2000
New Jersey State Police
For state-level criminal history information:
- Complete a Request for Criminal History Record Information form
- Submit fingerprints through an approved vendor
- Pay the required fee ($41.00 for a personal record check)
- Provide proper identification
Pursuant to the Open Public Records Act, custodians must respond to records requests within seven business days. Requestors should note that certain information may be redacted from arrest records to protect privacy interests, ongoing investigations, or juvenile information as provided by law.
How To Find Burlington County Arrest Records Online
Burlington County provides several digital resources for accessing arrest records online. These electronic systems offer convenient alternatives to in-person requests, though they may contain varying levels of detail.
The primary online resources include:
Burlington County Inmate Lookup System
The Burlington County Department of Corrections maintains an online inmate search tool that provides:
- Current custody status
- Basic booking information
- Scheduled release dates (when available)
- Charges
This system is updated daily and can be accessed through the Burlington County Department of Corrections website.
New Jersey Judiciary Electronic Court Records
The New Jersey Courts provide access to criminal case information through their public portal:
- Visit the New Jersey Courts Public Access
- Select "Case Search" from the available options
- Choose "Criminal/Municipal" case type
- Enter search criteria (name, case number, etc.)
- Review results for Burlington County cases
This system provides case status, scheduled court dates, and disposition information for cases that have entered the court system following arrest.
New Jersey State Police Criminal History Records
For comprehensive criminal history information:
- Visit the New Jersey State Police Criminal Information Unit
- Complete the online application for criminal history record information
- Pay the required fee ($41.00)
- Submit fingerprints through an approved vendor if required
Note that pursuant to N.J.A.C. 13:59-1.1, access to complete criminal history record information is restricted to authorized agencies and individuals.
Open Public Records Act (OPRA) Online Requests
Burlington County accepts electronic OPRA requests through their online portal:
- Visit the Burlington County OPRA Request Portal
- Complete all required fields
- Specify the arrest records being requested
- Provide contact information
- Submit the form electronically
Responses to electronic OPRA requests are typically provided within seven business days as required by state law.
Users should be aware that online systems may not contain complete arrest record information, and some details may be redacted in accordance with privacy laws and investigative exemptions.
How To Search Burlington County Arrest Records for Free?
Burlington County residents and members of the public have several options for accessing arrest records without incurring fees. These no-cost methods provide varying levels of information detail.
Burlington County Jail Inmate Lookup
The Burlington County Department of Corrections maintains a free online inmate search tool:
- Provides current custody status and basic booking information
- Updated daily with current inmate population
- Accessible 24/7 through the county website
- No registration or fees required
Public Access Terminals at Government Offices
Several Burlington County facilities offer free public access terminals:
Burlington County Clerk's Office
50 Rancocas Road
Mount Holly, NJ 08060
Phone: (609) 265-5122
Burlington County Clerk
- Available during regular business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM)
- No appointment necessary
- Staff assistance available for search guidance
- Printing fees may apply ($0.05 per letter-size page)
Burlington County Law Library
49 Rancocas Road
Mount Holly, NJ 08060
Phone: (609) 265-5076
Burlington County Law Library
- Public access computers with legal research databases
- Access to New Jersey court records systems
- Reference librarians available for assistance
- Open Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Local Police Department Blotters
Many municipal police departments within Burlington County maintain public police blotters:
- Contain recent arrest information
- Updated regularly (typically daily or weekly)
- Available for public inspection at no cost
- May be published on municipal websites or social media
New Jersey Courts Public Access
The New Jersey Judiciary provides free online access to basic case information:
- Visit the New Jersey Courts Public Portal
- No registration required for basic searches
- Search by name or case number
- Filter results for Burlington County cases
Local Newspaper Crime Reports
Several local publications regularly report on arrests in Burlington County:
- The Burlington County Times
- South Jersey Times
- Community news websites
These sources typically publish significant arrests and may include basic information about charges and circumstances.
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5, while inspection of records is free, government agencies may charge for copies of records to cover administrative costs. Additionally, comprehensive criminal history information may require payment of statutory fees to the New Jersey State Police.
How To Delete Arrest Records in Burlington County
New Jersey law provides specific mechanisms for limiting public access to arrest records through expungement or sealing processes. These legal remedies differ significantly in their scope and effect:
Expungement (Legal Erasure)
Expungement in New Jersey is governed by N.J.S.A. 2C:52-1 et seq. and involves the removal and isolation of records, rather than physical destruction. When an expungement is granted:
- Records are removed from public access
- The arrest is deemed not to have occurred
- The individual may legally deny the arrest in most circumstances
- Law enforcement agencies retain limited access for specific purposes
Eligibility criteria for expungement include:
- Completion of all terms of sentence
- Payment of all fines
- Satisfaction of waiting periods (varies by offense type)
- No pending charges
- Limitations on number and type of prior convictions
Record Sealing (Restricting Public Access)
New Jersey's "Clean Slate" law (N.J.S.A. 2C:52-5.4) provides an automated process for sealing certain records after 10 years. Additionally, certain juvenile records are automatically sealed upon reaching adulthood.
Sealing differs from expungement in that:
- Records remain in existence but with restricted access
- Only authorized agencies can view sealed records
- Records may be unsealed by court order
Process for Expungement in Burlington County
- Determine eligibility under New Jersey expungement statutes
- Obtain criminal history information from the New Jersey State Police
- Gather case information from courts where charges were filed
- Complete expungement petition forms (available from the New Jersey Courts website)
- File the petition with the Superior Court in Burlington County:
Burlington County Superior Court
49 Rancocas Road
Mount Holly, NJ 08060
Phone: (609) 518-2600
Burlington County Courts
- Serve copies of the petition on all required agencies:
- Burlington County Prosecutor's Office
- New Jersey State Police
- Attorney General's Office
- Arresting police department
- County probation department (if applicable)
- Attend the expungement hearing if required
- If granted, distribute the expungement order to all agencies
The expungement process typically takes 3-6 months from filing to final order. Legal assistance is recommended but not required. The Burlington County Bar Association offers referrals to attorneys specializing in expungement law.
Certain serious offenses are ineligible for expungement under New Jersey law, including homicide, kidnapping, sexual assault, robbery, and arson. Additionally, motor vehicle violations, including DUI/DWI, cannot be expunged as they are not considered criminal offenses under New Jersey law.
What Happens After Arrest in Burlington County?
The post-arrest process in Burlington County follows a standardized sequence of events within New Jersey's criminal justice system. This process includes several key stages:
Initial Processing (Booking) Following arrest, individuals are transported to a local police station or the Burlington County Jail for booking, which includes:
- Photographing and fingerprinting
- Personal property inventory
- Medical screening
- Background check
- Initial charge documentation
Detention Determination Under New Jersey's Criminal Justice Reform Act (N.J.S.A. 2A:162-15), the decision to detain or release is based on risk assessment rather than monetary bail:
- Public Safety Assessment (PSA) tool evaluates flight risk and public safety threat
- Prosecutor may file for pretrial detention
- Judge determines release conditions or detention status
First Appearance/Central Judicial Processing (CJP) Within 48 hours of arrest, defendants appear before a judge at the Burlington County Superior Court:
- Formal reading of charges
- Advisement of rights
- Counsel determination (public defender or private attorney)
- Pretrial release decision finalized
- Preliminary hearing date set (if applicable)
Case Classification and Routing Cases are classified based on severity:
- Indictable offenses (felonies) proceed to the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office
- Disorderly persons offenses (misdemeanors) are typically handled in Municipal Court
- Certain cases may be downgraded or diverted to specialized programs
Pre-Indictment Events For indictable offenses:
- Prosecutor reviews evidence
- Pre-indictment conference may be held
- Plea negotiations may begin
- Grand jury presentation (if case proceeds)
Indictment and Arraignment If indicted by a grand jury:
- Formal charges are filed
- Arraignment occurs within 14 days
- Defendant enters plea (guilty, not guilty, or no contest)
- Discovery process begins
- Trial date scheduling
Pre-Trial Conferences and Motions
- Status conferences monitor case progress
- Evidentiary motions may be filed
- Plea negotiations continue
- Final trial preparation
Trial or Plea Resolution Cases conclude through:
- Guilty plea agreement
- Jury trial
- Bench trial (judge only)
- Dismissal of charges
Sentencing Following conviction:
- Pre-sentence investigation report prepared
- Sentencing hearing scheduled
- Judge imposes sentence based on New Jersey sentencing guidelines
- Defendant advised of appeal rights
Post-Conviction
- Incarceration in county jail or state prison
- Probation supervision
- Payment of fines and restitution
- Completion of court-ordered programs
Throughout this process, cases may be resolved through diversionary programs such as Pre-Trial Intervention (PTI), Drug Court, or Veterans Diversion Program, which provide alternatives to traditional prosecution for eligible defendants.
How Long Are Arrest Records Kept in Burlington County?
Arrest records in Burlington County are maintained according to New Jersey's records retention requirements, which are established by the State Records Committee under the authority of N.J.S.A. 47:3-26. These retention periods vary based on record type, case disposition, and maintaining agency.
The New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, Records Management Services, publishes comprehensive retention schedules that govern law enforcement records. According to the County and Municipal General Records Retention Schedule, the following retention periods apply:
Law Enforcement Agencies
- Arrest reports for adults: Minimum 75 years
- Arrest reports for juveniles: Until age 23, then destroyed (unless waived to adult court)
- Investigation reports resulting in arrest: Minimum 75 years
- Investigation reports not resulting in arrest: 5 years
- Fingerprint cards: 75 years
- Booking photographs (mugshots): 75 years
- Daily arrest logs: Permanent retention
Court Records
- Criminal case files (indictable offenses): 15 years after case conclusion
- Disorderly persons case files: 5 years after case conclusion
- Expunged records: Removed from public access but maintained in segregated files accessible only by court order
Prosecutor's Office Records
- Case files for indictable offenses: 15 years after case conclusion
- Case files for homicide and sexual assault: Permanent retention
- Grand jury records: 15 years
Department of Corrections
- Inmate records: 10 years after release or discharge
- Inmate medical records: 7 years after release
Different agencies maintain separate record systems with varying retention requirements. This distributed approach means that even if records are expunged from one system, they may persist in others unless the expungement order is properly distributed and implemented by all record-holding agencies.
Digital records are subject to the same retention requirements as paper records. As agencies transition to electronic record-keeping systems, they must maintain compliance with these retention schedules.
The retention of arrest records serves several important purposes:
- Preserves evidence for potential appeals or post-conviction proceedings
- Supports law enforcement investigations of related crimes
- Provides statistical data for crime analysis and resource allocation
- Maintains historical documentation for research and accountability
- Ensures compliance with constitutional and statutory rights
Individuals seeking to limit access to their arrest records before the expiration of retention periods must pursue expungement or sealing remedies as provided by New Jersey law.
How to Find Mugshots in Burlington County
What Mugshots Are
Mugshots, formally known as booking photographs, are official photographs taken during the arrest booking process. In Burlington County, these photographs typically include:
- Front-facing (frontal) view of the arrestee
- Profile (side) view of the arrestee
- Identifying information board showing name and booking number
- Date of arrest
- Arresting agency information
These photographs serve as visual identification records within the criminal justice system and are considered part of the official arrest record.
Where Mugshots Are Maintained
In Burlington County, booking photographs are primarily maintained by:
Burlington County Department of Corrections
54 Grant Street
Mount Holly, NJ 08060
Phone: (609) 265-5100
Burlington County Department of Corrections
Municipal Police Departments that process arrests also maintain copies of booking photographs for individuals processed through their facilities.
Finding Mugshots
To locate mugshots in Burlington County, individuals may:
-
Submit an Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request specifically requesting booking photographs:
- Requests must include the arrestee's name and date of arrest
- Requestor's contact information
- Specific statement requesting booking photographs
- Purpose of request (optional but may help expedite)
-
Contact the arresting agency directly:
- Determine which police department made the arrest
- Submit written request to that department's records division
- Provide specific identifying information about the arrest
-
Request through the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office for cases they have prosecuted:
Burlington County Prosecutor's Office
49 Rancocas Road
Mount Holly, NJ 08060
Phone: (609) 265-5035
Burlington County Prosecutor's Office
Can Mugshots Be Found Online
Unlike some states, New Jersey does not maintain an official public database of booking photographs. However, mugshots may appear online through:
- News media websites that publish arrest information
- Third-party mugshot websites that aggregate booking photos
- Law enforcement social media accounts that may publish certain booking photos in high-profile cases
The New Jersey Attorney General's Office has issued directives limiting the release of booking photographs except in specific circumstances, such as when:
- The public's assistance is needed to locate a fugitive
- There is a legitimate law enforcement purpose
- The release serves a significant public interest
Obtaining Mugshots Officially
The most reliable method to obtain official booking photographs is through an OPRA request:
- Complete the OPRA request form available on the Burlington County website
- Submit the form to the appropriate records custodian
- Pay any applicable fees for reproduction ($0.05 per letter-size page)
- Allow up to 7 business days for response as required by N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5(i)
Restrictions on Mugshot Access
Access to booking photographs in New Jersey is subject to several restrictions:
- Juvenile mugshots are confidential under N.J.S.A. 2A:4A-60
- Expunged arrest records, including mugshots, are removed from public access
- The Attorney General's Office has issued directives limiting routine release of booking photos
- Law enforcement agencies may withhold mugshots if release would compromise an ongoing investigation
- Privacy concerns may result in limited distribution of booking photographs
Individuals seeking mugshots should be prepared to demonstrate a legitimate purpose for their request, as agencies increasingly scrutinize such requests to prevent exploitation of arrest information.