New Jersey Released Inmates Database
New Jersey released inmates records are available through several state and county systems. The New Jersey Department of Corrections keeps a public offender search tool that covers state prison records. County jails across New Jersey also hold records on people they have booked and released. You can search for released inmates by name or by SBI number through the NJDOC site. This page lists the main resources for finding released inmates in New Jersey. Each tool offers a different way to check custody status or look up offender records across the state.
New Jersey Released Inmates Quick Facts
Find Released Inmates in New Jersey
The New Jersey Department of Corrections runs an offender search engine open to the public. The tool lets you search by last name, first name, and middle initial. You can also use an SBI number. SBI stands for State Bureau of Identification. Each person in the system gets a unique SBI number. Using it is the most accurate way to find released inmates in New Jersey. You can narrow results by hair color, eye color, sex, and age. The database covers inmates who served time in New Jersey state prisons. It does not cover federal inmates or those held only at county jails. The NJDOC updates this data on a biweekly basis to keep it as current as possible across New Jersey.
The New Jersey State Parole Board provides details on offenders who have been paroled from state facilities.
The Parole Board supervises more than 15,000 offenders across New Jersey. Its Division of Parole uses sworn law enforcement officers to monitor parolees statewide. The Division of Release evaluates each incarcerated person and sets their eligible release status. You can email the State Parole Board at SPB-Public-Info-Office@spb.nj.gov for information about a specific parolee. You can also submit anonymous tips about parole violations through the same address. The Office of Victim Services within the Parole Board encourages crime victims to take part in the parole process in New Jersey.
An offender is removed from the NJDOC search page one year after completing their sentence in New Jersey. Those sentenced to Community Supervision for Life or Parole Supervision for Life stay listed because their terms have no end date. Records of paroled or released inmates are not updated after they leave custody. Do not assume a listed parolee remains under active supervision in New Jersey. Certain offenders may also be excluded from the site at the discretion of the NJDOC and other law enforcement agencies.
Note: Any person who misuses offender data to threaten or harass another may face criminal prosecution or civil liability under New Jersey law.
New Jersey Released Inmates Public Records
The Open Public Records Act governs access to government records in New Jersey. Known as OPRA and codified at N.J.S. 47:1A-1 et seq., this law gives citizens the right to inspect and copy records held by public agencies. This includes certain records about released inmates held by the NJDOC, county jails, and sheriff offices across New Jersey. OPRA requires custodians to respond to record requests within seven business days. If a request is denied, you can challenge the denial by filing a complaint with the Government Records Council or by starting a case in Superior Court. The law makes clear that government records in New Jersey shall be readily accessible to citizens.
Paper copies cost $0.05 per letter size page and $0.07 per legal size page under OPRA in New Jersey. No fee applies if the agency directs you to records on its website. Requests with fees over $25 may need a 50% deposit. Anonymous requests need a full deposit of all estimated fees.
Criminal investigatory records get special treatment under OPRA in New Jersey. These are records held by law enforcement that relate to a criminal investigation or civil enforcement action. Some details must still be disclosed, as listed in N.J.S.A. 47:1A-3(b). Also, a person convicted of an indictable offense cannot use OPRA to get personal information about their victim or the victim's family in New Jersey. This includes home addresses, phone numbers, and Social Security numbers. The law protects victims while still allowing broad public access to released inmates records in New Jersey.
Released Inmates Alerts in New Jersey
VINE is the statewide victim notification system in New Jersey. It stands for Victim Information and Notification Everyday. The system gives 24 hour, 7 day a week access to custody status for released inmates and current offenders. Any crime victim can register with VINE to get automatic alerts when an offender's status changes. This covers inmates in all New Jersey county jails and state correctional facilities. Call 1-877-VINE-4-NJ (1-877-846-3465) or visit vinelink.com to use the service.
To register, you enter a phone number and email address. You create a four digit PIN. Do not use a number that rings to a switchboard or automated device. Once an inmate is set for release, VINE calls every 30 minutes until you enter your PIN. If you do not answer, it leaves a message and keeps calling for up to 24 hours. Caller ID shows only the area code, not the full number. Some call blocking devices may stop these calls from getting through in New Jersey.
Note: VINE does not cover juvenile offenders in New Jersey. Victims of juvenile offenders must register directly with the State Parole Board.
New Jersey Court Records and Released Inmates
The New Jersey Judiciary offers online access to court records at njcourts.gov. You can search criminal judgments by defendant name, SBI number, complaint number, or indictment number. Civil and criminal cases are searchable by name or county. The system covers all 21 counties in New Jersey. Court records can show the charges, conviction details, and sentencing information for released inmates across the state.
The Electronic Access Program costs $4 per minute and gives access to case management systems in New Jersey. PROMIS/Gavel tracks indictable criminal cases from arrest through appeals. The Municipal Court Case Search is free and covers traffic tickets and minor complaints. New Jersey Superior Courts handle about 661,300 cases each year. Municipal Courts receive roughly 5,405,000 filings a year. You can also request copies by mail from the Superior Court Clerk's Office in Trenton at P.O. Box 971, Trenton, NJ 08625-0971. Copies cost $0.05 per page and certified copies carry an added $15 fee in New Jersey.
Some records are restricted under NJ Court Rule 1:38. These include juvenile case files, adoption records, and medical or psychiatric reports tied to custody matters in New Jersey.
New Jersey Released Inmates Record Requests
OPRA Central is the state's official site for public records requests in New Jersey. The most important step is knowing which agency holds the records you want. An OPRA request is not complete until the right custodian receives it. Visit nj.gov/opra to find the correct agency and submit your request for released inmates records in New Jersey. The site has an alphabetical listing of all state agencies to help you locate the right custodian.
The Attorney General's office also accepts records requests. State law requires a written, signed, and dated request delivered in person or by mail during business hours. Email submissions are accepted at the custodian's official OPRA address. If you submit to the wrong person, the deadlines and remedies under OPRA will not apply in New Jersey.
The Government Records Council handles disputes about access to records in New Jersey. Call toll free at 866-850-0511 or email Government.Records@dca.nj.gov. The GRC offers mediation and adjudication for OPRA complaints. It also issues advisory opinions about whether certain record types are accessible. If your request for released inmates records is denied, the GRC is one of two places to file a challenge in New Jersey.
You can also get parole records through OPRA by downloading the form at nj.gov/parole. Fill it out with the details of the records you want and send it to the Parole Board custodian. The seven business day clock starts when the custodian gets your form in New Jersey.
New Jersey Released Inmates Victim Services
The NJDOC Office of Victim Services protects the rights of crime victims in New Jersey. Established in 2000, the office helps victims find services and resources. It provides timely updates about the correctional system. Contact OVS at nj.gov/corrections, by email at Victim.Services@doc.nj.gov, or by phone at (609) 943-5390.
OVS runs several programs in New Jersey. Focus on the Victim is a 14 week program where participants examine the impact of crime through group talks, videos, and guest speakers. The H.E.A.R.T. program helps female participants recover from trauma caused by abuse. Releasing Trauma and Embracing Faith uses spiritual pathways to help with healing. These programs support victims and offenders alike as part of the reentry process for released inmates in New Jersey. The Sex Offender Internet Registry under Megan's Law also gives victims and the public access to information about certain offenders. The registry covers Tier 2 and Tier 3 offenders but excludes low risk Tier 1 offenders and juveniles in New Jersey.
Contacting Released Inmates in New Jersey
New Jersey state correctional facilities use the GTL (Global Tel Link) phone system for inmate calls. The rate is $0.04384 per minute. All calls are subject to recording and monitoring, except calls to legal counsel, the AIDS hotline, and the Ombudsperson. Each inmate has an approved calling list of 10 phone numbers. Daily spending is capped at $35 and monthly at $200. Visit the NJDOC offender information page for full details on phone policies and calling list schedules for New Jersey facilities.
Inmates can make collect calls or debit calls. Collect calls charge the person who picks up. Debit calls charge the inmate's account. GTL billing can be reached at 1-800-483-8314 for the automated system or 1-866-230-7761 for a live person. Each New Jersey facility has a 90 day schedule for when inmates can change their calling lists. Dates vary by location. Southern State changes on January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1. East Jersey changes on January 15, April 15, July 15, and October 15.
Questions about released inmates or offender information in New Jersey must be sent in writing to the NJDOC at PO Box 863, ATTN: Correspondence Unit, Trenton, NJ 08625. Phone inquiries about offender information cannot be honored.
Criminal History Checks in New Jersey
The New Jersey State Police Criminal Information Unit handles fingerprint based criminal history record checks. Any New Jersey resident can request a copy of their own criminal history record. The process uses live scan fingerprinting through IDEMIA, a private company under contract with the state. Schedule an appointment at uenroll.identogo.com or call 1-877-503-5981. The fee is $42.80, which covers the vendor fee and state sales tax. Payment is collected at the fingerprint site on the day of your appointment in New Jersey.
For questions about the criminal history record check process, contact the Criminal Information Unit at 609-882-2000 ext. 2918 or email CIU@gw.njsp.org. These checks are separate from the NJDOC offender search tool. The State Police system covers all fingerprint based records in New Jersey, while the NJDOC tool focuses on people who served time in state prisons. Both can be useful when looking into released inmates records in New Jersey.
Note: Criminal history records from the State Police are only available to the subject of the record or authorized persons under New Jersey law.
Browse New Jersey Released Inmates by County
Each county in New Jersey has its own jail and correctional system that handles released inmates records. Pick a county below to find local resources and contact information.
Released Inmates in Major New Jersey Cities
Residents of major cities in New Jersey can search for released inmates through their county correctional system. Pick a city below to find local information.