Police Records Bureau

Records WindowThe Jefferson Township Police Records Bureau manages all records for the police department and is currently staffed by two full-time, civilian employees, and Records Supervisor, Sergeant Joseph Hale.

All requests for information such as discovery, motor vehicle crash reports, and incident verifications are processed through our Records Bureau.

Requests for Motor Vehicle (MV) Crash Reports and Incident Verifications can now be made online through our website.

ACCIDENT & INCIDENT VERIFICATION REPORTS

MV CRASH REPORTS

Individual accident reports are one of our most frequent requests. In addition to requesting these reports in person, over the phone, or in writing, it is also possible to request them online, and you can receive the accident report by fax, email, regular mail, or in person.

MV Crash reports are generally available and can be requested 3 to 5 business days after the report is made. They can be picked up during normal business hours (or after hours can also be arranged), or they can be faxed or emailed to you upon request.  

Click here to access the NJTR-1 crash report overlay.  This will assist you in reading your accident report.

INCIDENT VERIFICATION

Incident Verifications are generally available and can be requested within 5 to 10 business days after the date of the incident.

For all other incidents that have occurred and been reported, we can provide you with an Incident Verification, which will outline the basic details of a reported incident, and can be submitted to an insurance company to report a claim.

Incident Verification Reports can be requested in all the same ways as an accident report, but can only be picked up in person, as it requires identity verification.

Ways to Request

Incident Verifications must be requested in writing and picked up in person with a valid form of identification. If you cannot pick the incident verification up during normal business hours, you can request it be left with our Communications Division, where you can pick it up any time, 24/7, as long as you show a valid ID.

Incident Verifications for multiple incidents must be requested in writing and can take up to five business days to process.

Discovery Requests

Discovery cannot be requested online. All discovery requests must be in writing and can be sent to the Records Bureau by regular mail, courier, email, fax, or whatever other method of delivery is available to the sender. By default, discovery will be sent by regular mail. However, upon request, discovery can be sent by fax or via our secure Box account. Which of these methods is available for this purpose depends on the volume of the discovery.

ATTENTION ATTORNEYS & DEFENDANTS REPRESENTING THEMSELVES

Our online request feature is not to be used for discovery requests-discovery requests must be done in writing, and sent to Jefferson Township Police Department by either regular mail, email, fax, or courier/hand delivery. Thank you for your cooperation.

Access our online police report request form. This form is not to be used to request Discovery. Get information on the cost to obtain police reports (PDF).

Open Public Records Act (OPRA)

Effective July 8, 2002, in accordance with N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1: 

  • Criminal investigatory records and victim’s records are not public information. Incident verifications for insurance purposes will be issued.
  • Arrest information can be released under certain criteria.
  • Most Domestic Violence discovery requests must be made through the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office.
  • Most accident reports are public information.

Defendants charged with a crime or offense may request Discovery through the Municipal Prosecutor under R. 7:7-7.

Access a Government Records request form (OPRA request) , or you may stop by our Records Bureau window and request a hard copy of the Government Records request form.

Unattainable Information

Not all police records are public information. Criminal investigatory reports are not public information, which includes most police-type reports.

Helpful Resources

For more information concerning public access to police reports, you may contact Records Supervisor, Sergeant Ryan McGowan 973-208-6155, or via his email link on our Contact Information page.

For additional information, please also visit the New Jersey OPRA website.

After Hours

To make such arrangements to pick up requested documents after hours, or for any questions you may have during business hours, you may contact one of our Records Clerks directly as follows:

  • Erin Ackerly: 973-208-6156
  • Jennifer Nemeth 973-208-3635

The Jefferson Township Police Records Bureau is open Monday through Friday, from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm.