Camden Public Arrest Records
Camden 72 hour booking records cover arrests made within the city and processed through the Camden County system. As the county seat of Camden County, the city sees a high volume of arrests each year. Booking data is public under New Jersey law. Anyone can request these records through the county police department or via OPRA. The Camden County Correctional Facility at 330 Federal Street handles intake for persons arrested on indictable offenses. The 72 hour booking log provides a rolling look at recent law enforcement activity in Camden.
What Camden Booking Records Include
Under N.J.S.A. 47:1A-3, arrest information is public within 24 hours. Camden booking records must include specific details by law. The statute lists what the public can access after an arrest occurs.
The required information covers:
- Date, time, and location of the arrest
- Type of crime and any weapon involved
- Defendant's name, age, residence, and occupation
- Complaining party identity
- Text of the charges filed
- Names of investigating and arresting officers
- Circumstances of the arrest and bail information
This list comes directly from the statute. Camden cannot withhold these details from a 72 hour booking record request. If a custodian refuses to release this data, the denial may be challenged through the Government Records Council.
Camden 72 Hour Booking and OPRA
Police records in Camden are available through the County Police Department. You can submit requests via OPRAmachine or directly to the records custodian. N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5 gives the agency seven business days to respond.
The following image relates to OPRA guidance that applies to Camden booking record requests.
A key GRC ruling shapes how Camden handles these requests. In GRC Decision 2019-251, the council confirmed that summonses, complaints, DWI and DUI complaints, and arrest listings are accessible under OPRA. This decision reinforces the public's right to Camden booking data.
However, not everything is open. The case of Melton v. City of Camden, GRC 2011-233, decided in 2013, established that arrest photographs are not public under OPRA. The ruling cited Executive Order 69 as the basis for withholding mugshots. So while you can get the booking log and arrest details, photos from Camden arrests are treated differently.
Note: The New Jersey OPRA Blog covers legal developments that affect how Camden and other cities handle public records requests.
Camden County Correctional Facility
The Camden County Correctional Facility at 330 Federal Street is where most Camden arrestees are held. The jail maintains its own booking records for every person processed through intake. These records may contain more detail than what the police department holds.
County-level booking data includes intake notes and housing assignments. The core arrest information remains public. You can request it from the Camden County Sheriff's Office.
For real-time custody checks, VINELink covers Camden County. Search by name to see if someone is in custody. You can also sign up for alerts. This service is free and runs around the clock.
Legal Framework for Camden Records
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 establishes that government records in New Jersey are presumed open. This presumption drives how Camden handles 72 hour booking requests. The burden falls on the agency to justify any denial, not on you to prove why you need the record.
Criminal investigatory records are one exception. These files may be withheld if they relate to an ongoing investigation. But the basic booking log is not an investigatory record. It is a factual account of who was arrested, when, and on what charges.
If Camden denies your request, file a complaint with the Government Records Council. The GRC will review the denial and issue a ruling. You can also go to Superior Court if you prefer a faster resolution.
Note: Camden arrest records may be expunged under N.J.S.A. 2C:52-1 if the person meets eligibility requirements. Expunged records no longer appear in public searches.
Searching Camden Arrest Data Online
Camden booking records are not posted on a public website by the city. But related court records are searchable online. Once a Camden arrest becomes a court case, you can track it through the state judiciary portal.
Court records show case status, hearing dates, and final dispositions. They do not replace the 72 hour booking log, but they give a broader picture of what happened after the arrest. Both records are public and serve different purposes.
Camden County 72 Hour Booking
Camden is the county seat of Camden County. All major arrests in the city are processed through the county system. For county-wide booking records, jail information, and additional public record resources, visit the full Camden County page.