Burlington County Police Records
Burlington County is the largest county by land area in New Jersey. It spans the South Jersey region from the Delaware River to the Pine Barrens. The county seat is Mount Holly. Burlington County police records are maintained by local departments, the county prosecutor, and the sheriff's office. Residents can request these records under state open records law. The county includes suburban towns like Mount Laurel and Evesham as well as rural areas, all generating police records across Burlington County.
Burlington County Prosecutor Criminal Records
The Burlington County Prosecutor's Office oversees criminal investigations throughout the county. This office handles major crimes and works alongside local police departments. The prosecutor maintains case files, evidence records, and investigative reports. These are among the most commonly sought police records in Burlington County.
Under New Jersey's Open Public Records Act, N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq., government records are presumed public. However, criminal investigatory records receive special treatment. N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1 exempts records that are part of a criminal investigation. This means the Burlington County Prosecutor can deny requests for certain police records if they fall under this exemption. The exemption applies whether the investigation is open or closed.
Mt. Laurel Township, one of the largest municipalities in Burlington County, has been the subject of records disputes at the Government Records Council. These GRC cases help shape how police records are handled across Burlington County. Each ruling adds clarity to what the public can and cannot access when requesting records from law enforcement agencies.
Burlington County Government Records
The Burlington County government website is the central hub for county services. You can find contact information for all county offices here. OPRA requests for county-level police records start at this site. The county has a records custodian who processes requests that come in for departments under county control.
The screenshot below shows the Burlington County government portal where you can find agency contacts and begin your search for police records.
Bookmark this page for quick access to Burlington County services.
The Burlington County Clerk manages recorded documents such as deeds, liens, and other filings. While the clerk does not hold police records, this office is part of the public records system in Burlington County. Property records and civil documents from the clerk can sometimes relate to criminal matters handled by law enforcement.
Requesting Police Records in Burlington County
To get police records in Burlington County, you must file an OPRA request with the correct agency. Identify which department handled the matter. Was it a local police department or the county prosecutor? Each agency has its own records custodian. Your request goes to that person.
A proper OPRA request must describe the record you want with enough detail for the custodian to find it. Include dates, names, and incident numbers when possible. The agency has seven business days to respond under N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5. They can provide the records, deny access with a reason, or request an extension. Burlington County agencies follow the same timeline as all other agencies in New Jersey.
The state provides a model request form you can use when seeking Burlington County police records. The image below shows this form from the GRC.
Using the official form helps prevent delays with your Burlington County request.
Copy costs are set by state law. Standard letter-size copies cost $0.05 per page. Legal-size copies are $0.07 per page. If the records you seek from Burlington County require significant staff time to compile, a special service charge may apply. The agency must tell you about any charges before they do the work.
Note: Always keep a copy of your OPRA request and any response you receive from Burlington County agencies for your records.
Burlington County Sheriff Records
The Burlington County Sheriff's Office serves warrants, transports prisoners, and provides court security. The sheriff's records include warrant data, arrest information, and inmate booking details. These police records in Burlington County are available through OPRA, subject to the usual exemptions for investigatory material.
Active warrant information is one of the most requested types of records from the Burlington County Sheriff. If someone has a warrant, it is generally public information. Contact the sheriff directly for warrant checks. Booking records from the county jail show names, charges, and bail amounts. These records reflect law enforcement activity across all of Burlington County.
Burlington County Court Criminal Cases
Criminal cases in Burlington County are heard at the Superior Court, Criminal Division. The courthouse is at 49 Rancocas Road in Mount Holly, NJ 08060. Court records include indictments, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and other filings. These are separate from police records but often relate to the same arrests and investigations in Burlington County.
The New Jersey Courts website allows you to search for cases online. You can look up cases by party name or docket number. The system covers all counties, including Burlington County. Basic case information is free to view. For copies of full documents, you may need to contact the court clerk or visit the courthouse in Mount Holly.
The image below shows the New Jersey Courts portal, where you can search for criminal case records from Burlington County.
Online searches provide case status, charges, and hearing dates for Burlington County matters.
Local Police in Burlington County
Burlington County has over 40 municipalities. Most have their own police departments. Mount Laurel, Evesham, and Moorestown are among the larger departments. Each one maintains its own set of police records, including incident reports, arrest logs, and dispatch records.
When you need a police record from Burlington County, contact the department in the town where the event occurred. The town's records custodian handles OPRA requests for that department. Response times vary. Some Burlington County departments have online request portals while others accept requests by mail, fax, or in person. Smaller departments in rural parts of Burlington County may have limited staff, which can slow response times.
Use of Force Reports are accessible from local departments under the 2017 New Jersey Supreme Court ruling in N. Jersey Media Grp., Inc. v. Twp. of Lyndhurst, 229 N.J. 541. This applies to all police departments in Burlington County. You can request these reports through OPRA just like any other non-exempt police record.
Note: If you are unsure which Burlington County department handled a particular incident, the county prosecutor's office may be able to direct you.
State Resources for Burlington County
Several state agencies provide tools and data relevant to Burlington County police records. The New Jersey State Police UCR program publishes annual crime statistics by county and town. Burlington County data appears in these reports. The numbers cover crimes reported to police across all municipalities.
The Government Records Council handles complaints when OPRA requests are denied. If a Burlington County agency refuses your request, you can file a free complaint with the GRC. The council will review the case and issue a decision. The Office of the Attorney General sets law enforcement policy for the entire state, including directives that affect how Burlington County agencies handle police records.
The OPRA main page at nj.gov/lps/opra has forms and guidance for filing records requests with any government agency in New Jersey, including those in Burlington County.
Cities in Burlington County
Burlington County includes Mount Laurel, Evesham, Moorestown, and dozens of other communities. Each town has police that create and store their own records. All criminal cases from these municipalities are processed through the Burlington County Superior Court in Mount Holly.
Other Burlington County towns include Burlington Township, Cinnaminson, Delran, Medford, Pemberton, Willingboro, and Bordentown. Reach out to each department for local police records.
Nearby Counties
Burlington County shares borders with four other counties. If you are not sure which county covers the location of an incident, check the municipal boundary. The correct county determines which court and prosecutor handle the case.