Obtaining Reports
Police reports are available at the Records Bureau window in the police department lobby Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Fees for reports are as follows:
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In Person Requests: |
Fax or Mail Requests: |
Requests to have a police report sent through the mail or via fax must be made using our Records Request Form (see below under the section titled “How do I obtain government records?” to access the form). The completed form and full payment must be received prior to our faxing or mailing the report.
Most reports are available seven working days after the officer takes the report, including accident reports.
While most reports are available to the public under the Open Public Records Act (OPRA), certain reports are not. Sgt. Carl LeMarble has been designated as the official Custodian of Records for the police department. A summary of the procedures, forms and timetables for access are explained in more detail below.
Questions? Contact the Records Bureau at 973.989.7029.
- What is a government record?
- A government record is a physical record that has a government purpose and that is held by a public agency. Under OPRA, the “physical record” includes any paper, written or printed book, document, drawing, map, plan, photograph, microfilm, data-processed or image-processed document, and information stored or maintained electronically or by sound recording.
- What government records are accessible to the public?
- Generally, all government records are accessible to the public except those that fall under the exceptions to public access set forth in OPRA. These exceptions to public accessibility standards exist because of the legal principle that citizens have a reasonable expectation of privacy regarding records in possession of a public agency; because of public safety concerns; and because of the need to insure unfettered debate, discussion, and consideration of issues inside public agencies.
- The following government records are not accessible to the public:
- autopsy reports
- criminal investigatory records
- credit card numbers
- social security numbers
- unlisted telephone numbers
- drivers’ license numbers
- domestic violence data
- victim locations
- victim records
- DYFS information
- electronic surveillance materials
- fingerprint cards
- juvenile records
- safety of persons or public
- How do I obtain government records?
- The procedure for obtaining government records from the Randolph Township Police Department is fairly straightforward. It is important to note, however, that you need to know what records you want. In order for your request to be processed, you will be required to provide an accurate and specific description for each record sought.
- Citizens who wish to obtain government records must file a records request with the department’s Custodian of Records. This is accomplished by completing a form available at the Records Bureau’s office. For your convenience, we have also made the Records Request Form available online. To view it, you will need the freely available Adobe Reader software installed on your computer, version 4 or higher.
- What is the time frame for requests?
- A requestor will be given immediate access to records that are readily available to the Custodian at the time of the request. “Immediate access” means that the Records Bureau will make every effort to provide access as soon as it is requested.
- By law, the police department’s Custodian of Records must notify you within seven business days from receipt of your request as to whether it grants or denies your request. If the record requested is not currently available or is in storage, the Custodian will advise you within seven business days when the record can be made available and the estimated cost. If the request involves large amounts of information, both the requestor and Custodian of Records can agree to an extension of time.
- What happens if my request is denied?
- If the Custodian of Records denies the request, there are two avenues of redress: the requestor may file a suit in Superior Court or apply to the Government Records Council (GRC) for relief. It is suggested that requestors pursue the latter course of action because the GRC may be able to intervene and resolve the matter without a formal complaint being filed. See “A Citizen’s Guide to OPRA” at the state’s web site for more information.
- Fees
- The fees for copies are as follows:
pages 1-10……75¢ per page
pages 11-20……50¢ per page
pages 21+……25¢ per page
audio tape/video tape/CD……$10.00 - At the discretion of the Records Bureau, a deposit may be required for large requests. Tapes, maps, hearing transcripts, exhibits, drawings, etc. will be charged based upon the actual cost to the agency for reproduction. The Custodian of Records will inform the requestor of these special charges and elicit agreement in writing prior to reproduction.