Union County Criminal History

Union County criminal history records are available through the Sheriff, the Bureau of Criminal Identification, and the Superior Court in Elizabeth. Sheriff Peter Corvelli oversees law enforcement operations across the county. The Bureau of Identification at 2 Broad Street handles fingerprinting and criminal record processing. Union County was the first in New Jersey to establish a Family Violence Unit, and the county also participates in DNA CODIS sample collection. Searching for criminal records involves the court system, the state CHRI database, and local offices in Elizabeth.

Union County Sheriff Criminal Records

Sheriff Peter Corvelli leads the Union County Sheriff's Office at 10 Elizabethtown Plaza, Elizabeth NJ 07207. Call 908-527-4450 for general inquiries. The office handles warrants, prisoner transport, and courthouse security. The Sheriff also oversees the corrections facility and the Bureau of Criminal Identification.

You can learn more about the Sheriff's services on the Union County Sheriff website.

The site provides details about each division, office hours, and contact numbers for specific units within the Sheriff's Office.

The Union County corrections facility is at 15 Elizabethtown Plaza. Call 908-558-2600 for inmate information. The corrections division page provides details about the facility, visitation rules, and inmate services.

Booking records from corrections show charges, arrest dates, and bail status. These records document the custody side of criminal cases in Union County.

Bureau of Criminal Identification

Union County operates a Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI) at 2 Broad Street, Elizabeth NJ 07201. Call 908-558-2630 for appointments and questions. This unit handles fingerprinting, criminal record processing, and identification services.

The BCI processes fingerprints for criminal history record checks. You submit prints on an SBI 212B form. The current fee is $45.73 for fingerprint processing. The prints go to the New Jersey State Police CHRI system for matching against the statewide database.

Union County also collects DNA CODIS samples as part of its criminal identification work. This federal database links DNA evidence across jurisdictions. The BCI plays a key role in maintaining accurate criminal identification records for the county.

Note: The BCI handles fingerprinting but does not issue the final criminal history report. Results come from the State Police after processing.

Union County Criminal Court Records

The Superior Court at 2 Broad Street in Elizabeth handles all indictable criminal cases for Union County. Call (908) 787-1650 for case inquiries. The Criminal Division processes arraignments, trials, and sentencing hearings. All records are maintained by the court clerk.

You can search criminal case records through the eCourts portal maintained by the New Jersey Judiciary. Enter a name or docket number to find case details. The system covers all 21 counties, including Union. For certified copies or detailed file reviews, visit the courthouse in person.

Municipal courts in Union County handle lesser offenses. Elizabeth, Union Township, Plainfield, and other municipalities each operate their own courts. Records from municipal cases stay with the local court. For a complete picture of someone's criminal history in Union County, check both the Superior Court and the relevant municipal court.

Criminal History Expungement in Union County

Expungement petitions for Union County cases are filed at the Superior Court in Elizabeth. The petition must list all arrests and convictions. A judge reviews eligibility based on the offense, the time since sentencing was completed, and the petitioner's record since conviction.

New Jersey's Clean Slate Act created automatic expungement for certain records. The system identifies qualifying cases and processes them without a petition. For records that do not qualify automatically, you file with the court and attend a hearing. The Union County Prosecutor can object to the petition if the legal standards are not met.

Expungement law under N.J.S.A. 2C:52 sets specific waiting periods:

• Indictable crimes require waiting after sentence completion
• Disorderly persons offenses have shorter waiting periods
• Drug convictions may qualify under special provisions
• Certain violent and sexual offenses are excluded

After a judge grants the petition, all Union County agencies must seal the record. The Sheriff, Prosecutor, BCI, and court all receive the order. The State Police update the CHRI database. The record will no longer appear in standard background checks.

Public Records in Union County

OPRA under N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 allows anyone to request government records from Union County offices. You can submit OPRA requests to the Sheriff, the Prosecutor, the BCI, or the County Clerk. Each office may hold different pieces of a criminal case file.

The law requires a response within seven business days. Some records are exempt, including those tied to active investigations, grand jury materials, and sealed cases. Most finalized criminal justice records are available. You must submit requests in writing using the forms provided by each office.

Note: Court records can be accessed directly at the courthouse or through eCourts. OPRA is best suited for police reports and agency records not filed with the court.

Cities in Union County

Union County includes many municipalities in the northeastern part of New Jersey. All serious criminal cases are handled through the Superior Court in Elizabeth. Municipal courts process minor offenses locally.

Other municipalities in Union County include Westfield, Cranford, Linden, Rahway, Summit, and Scotch Plains. All indictable criminal cases from these areas go through the courthouse in Elizabeth.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Union County. Criminal records are filed in the county where the offense occurred. Confirm the location of the arrest to determine the right jurisdiction for records.