Union County Criminal Records

Criminal records of Union County, New Jersey, are available through several channels. UnionCourt.us allows for quick searches of public information on criminal cases. Additionally, records can be obtained through the state's official court systems, law enforcement agencies, and the Union County court clerk's office. Below is a practical guide to searching, understanding, and ordering criminal records in this county.

How to Search Criminal Records in Union

There are several ways to find criminal records in Union County. Start with online tools, and if necessary, contact the court in person or by mail.

Online Search

1. UnionCourt.us — enter a name or case number to view publicly available information on county criminal cases.
2. Find a Case (NJ Courts) — the official New Jersey court system portal for searching civil and criminal Supreme Court cases. Full name of the defendant or case number is required.
3. Municipal Court Case Search — a separate tool for municipal court cases: traffic violations, disorderly persons offenses, and other complaints.
4. NJ Department of Corrections — Offender Search — a database of inmates under the supervision of the state correctional system. Useful if the person is serving a sentence in a state prison.

At least one of the following is required for the search:

• Full Name (Last Name, First Name)
• Date of Birth (DOB)
• Case Number (docket number)

In-Person Visit

Visit the Union County Courthouse, where the Superior Court Clerk's Office is located. There are terminals for public access to court records.

Additional contact information can be found on the Union County page on the NJ Courts website.

Mail Request

For closed cases, the Superior Court Clerk's Office accepts written requests. Fill out the request form for copies of court records, which can be downloaded from the Copies of Court Records page. Select SCCO as the division and specify Union as the county. Send the completed form along with payment to the clerk's office address.

Search Union Criminal Cases by Case Number

In New Jersey, each criminal case is assigned a unique number (docket number). Understanding its structure will expedite the search.

The format of a Superior Court case number typically looks like this:

• County Prefix — a two-letter code indicating the county (for Union, it's UNN).
• Case Type — a letter code indicating the category. For example, "CR" means a criminal case, and "IF" means an indictment/accusation.
• Sequential Number — the case's sequential number within the year.
• Year — a two-digit designation of the year the case was filed.

Example: a number might look like UNN-CR-000123-24, where "24" is the year, and "000123" is the sequential number. Municipal court cases have a different format and are searched through a separate municipal court portal.

If you do not know the case number, try searching by name through the portals described in the previous section.

Charges, Case Status, Hearings, and Court Results in Union

Each criminal record contains several key elements. Here's what they mean in practice.

Charges

Case Status

• Pending — the case is open, and a decision has not yet been made
• Active — the case is in active proceedings
• Disposed — the court has made a decision (verdict, closure, dismissal)
• Closed — all procedural actions are completed

Types of Hearings

• First Appearance / Arraignment — the first court appearance where charges are read to the defendant
• Preliminary Hearing — a preliminary hearing to determine the sufficiency of evidence
• Pre-Trial Conference — a pre-trial meeting between parties
• Sentencing — sentencing after a guilty plea or conviction
• Review Hearing — a review hearing often related to probation conditions

Court Results

How to Request Certified Criminal Records in Union

Certified copies are officially verified documents that can be used in legal proceedings. In New Jersey, they are issued by several institutions depending on the type of record.

Superior Court Clerk's Office

To obtain certified copies of court decisions, indictments, and other documents of closed cases:

1. Download the request form from the Copies of Court Records page.
2. Fill out the form, specifying the case number, party name, and document type.
3. Send the form by mail or submit it in person at the Union County court clerk's office.

You will need valid photo identification when picking up documents in person.

Statewide Criminal History Check

A full criminal history record check is conducted by the New Jersey State Police. This requires submitting fingerprints through an authorized collection point. This process is regulated separately from court records and is usually required for employment or licensing.

Historical Records

Union County court records dating back to the 19th century are stored in the New Jersey State Archives. For research of older materials, contact the archive directly.

Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times for Criminal Records in Union

Fees for copies of court records in New Jersey are set at the state level. Below are the main rates.

These rates are determined by the New Jersey court system rules. Payment is usually accepted by check or money order made payable to "Treasurer, State of New Jersey."

Processing Times

• In-Person Request — copies are often issued the same day or within a few business days, depending on volume.
• Mail Request — processing may take from two to four weeks. The clerk's office recommends confirming timelines by phone.
• State Police Criminal Check — usually from two to six weeks depending on workload.

Additional forms and instructions are available on the official New Jersey court system website.