Conduct a free search of Union County public records and learn a lot about another person, or make sure that everything in your own files is accurate and up to date.
The USA Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and New Jersey’s Open Public Record Act (OPRA) allow everyone to access public records kept by government agencies unless exempted by law. These records include information about arrests, criminal records, marriages, divorces, and court cases.
However, knowing exactly where to search and how to submit record requests is key to obtaining this information efficiently.
This resource offers instructions for searching records in Union County, New Jersey, and will help you track down the information you’re seeking — whether you’re looking for prisoner information, warrant or probation records, property ownership data, and more. It even includes instructions for conducting background check reports.
How To Find Union County Jail Inmates & View Mugshots for Free
Arrests are usually made by local police departments within the county and they report this information to the Union County Sheriff’s Office. Therefore, the first place to check is on the county level as it allows for the broadest search and applicable links and contact information can be found below.
Regardless of which agency you check with, it’s important to know the person’s first and last name as well as the approximate location of the arrest.
Search Arrests via the Union County Sheriff’s Office
The Division of Corrections of the Union County Sheriff’s Office runs the county’s jail. Currently, the Union County Jail primarily houses pre-trial suspects.
After trial, they’re sent to the Essex County Correctional Facility or the Hudson County Correctional Center (for short-term sentences) or to a state-run facility (for longer sentences).
That said, the website of the Sheriff’s Office contains an Inmate Look-up tool that allows researchers to track down the jail records for both current and released inmates in Union County.1
You can use the tool to search by inmate name or booking, case, or ID number. Check the “Include released inmates” box for records on previously incarcerated persons. You can also leave the name fields blank to see a full list of inmates.
Once you’ve entered your criteria and hit “Search,” the website will display a public index of Union County bookings, including the name, ID numbers, and birth date of each inmate.
The hot-linked name of an inmate will yield more information, including their physical characteristics, charges, and potential aliases. For most inmates, you’ll also see booking photographs — making this a good way to find someone’s mugshot.
For more information about past and previously incarcerated persons at the Union County Jail, you can contact the Divisions of Corrections by phone at 908.558.2600 or write to or visit this address:
Union County Sheriff’s Office
Division of Corrections
15 Elizabethtown Plz.
Elizabeth, NJ 07207
Additionally, you can contact the Sheriff’s Office directly to inquire about inmates, as well as about Union County offenders who have been moved to facilities in other counties.
Union County Sheriff’s Office
10 Elizabethtown Plz.
Elizabeth, NJ 07207
Phone: 908.528.4450
Thanks to New Jersey’s Open Public Records Act (OPRA), state, county, and municipal agencies must honor or deny any request to view the public records they maintain within seven days.2
That means anyone can contact law enforcement agencies within the county to enquire about public records in Union County concerning arrests and arrestees.
You can use the official OPRA form, the Request for Access to Government Records, to make a written request to view records in person, request them via email or fax, or to order photocopies of official documents. This form can be used with any county agency, including the Sheriff’s Office.
Unless stated otherwise, there is no cost for the first 10 pages of a copy of a Union County record. Every page thereafter costs 5 cents per page for letter-size documents and 7 cents per page for legal-size documents. In addition, there may be a fee of $2 for the retrieval of archived records.
Obtain Police Reports & Arrest Details via Law Enforcement Agencies Within Union County
In addition to the Sheriff’s Office, you can also contact the Union County Police Department to inquire about arrests and criminal activity in the county.3 The police department has jurisdiction over the entire county and assists local police agencies.
Because it’s a county agency, you can make a written request for information from the department using the Union County OPRA form, the Request for Access to Government Records. Here’s the mailing address, as well as a phone number for record inquiries:
Union County Police Department
400 N. Ave. East
Westfield, NJ 07090
Phone: 908.654.9809 (records division)
Plus, there are also dozens of municipal police departments in Union County. Here’s the contact information for the 10 largest law enforcement agencies in the county to start your search:
| Local Police Department | Address | Phone Number |
| Elizabeth Police Department | 1 Police Plz. Elizabeth, NJ 07201 |
908.557.2000 |
| Union Township Police Department | 981 Caldwell Ave. Union, NJ 07083 |
908.851.5000 |
| Linden Police Department | 301 N. Wood Ave. Linden, NJ 07036 |
908.474.8500 |
| Westfield Police Department | 425 E. Broad St. Westfield, NJ 07090 |
908.789.4000 |
| Rahway Police Department | 1 City Hall Pla. Rahway, NJ 07065 |
732.388.1900 |
| Scotch Plains Police Department | 430 Park Ave. Scotch Plains, NJ 07076 |
908.322.7100 |
| Cranford Police Department | 8 Springfield Ave. Cranford, NJ 07016 |
908.272.2222 |
| Hillside Police Department | 1409 Liberty Ave. Hillside, NJ 07205 |
973.926.5800 |
| Summit Police Department | 512 Springfield Ave. Summit, NJ 07901 |
908.273.0051 |
| Roselle Police Department | 210 Chestnut St. Roselle, NJ 07203 |
908.245.2000 |
You can find the contact information of other law enforcement agencies in Union County by typing “[city name] New Jersey police department contact information” into Google or any other search engine.
How To Obtain Free Union County New Jersey Criminal Records
In addition to Union County arrest records, you can find out more about someone else by running a free criminal record check through county and state agencies. By checking Union County criminal records, you can find out information charges, convictions, sentences, prisoners and even warrants.
While there are many agencies who host this information and each is outlined below, the best place to start is the New Jersey Court System’s Public Access site. If you can’t find the public records you’re looking for there, you can also contact the various trial courts within the county.
Locate Criminal Records in Union County New Jersey via the Courts’ Public Access Site
New Jersey’s unified Courts Public Access site is an efficient way to look up criminal records in Union County, as well as other counties within the state.
You can search both criminal convictions and judgments using the site. However, because a search of judgments also includes information about convictions, this is the most exhaustive search option.
The Criminal Judgments Public Access page allows users to access records for Union County’s Superior Court dating back to June 30, 2017.4 The Superior Court tries all cases in Union County related to felonies and indictable misdemeanors — which are lesser crimes still punishable by jail sentencing.
When using the lookup tool, make sure to turn off your pop-up blocker when using the site, or else it won’t function properly. Once you’ve read the disclaimer and accepted its terms, you can begin your search by selecting “Union” from the “Search in County” dropdown menu. You can then choose to search by the defendant’s name, indictment/accusation number, state ID number, complaint number, or PROMIS case/defendant number.
If searching by name, you must enter both a first and a last name. If you know a date range for when the person in question may have received a sentence, you can enter it to narrow down the search.
After entering your criteria, you’ll be taken to a page with see an online directory of Union County judicial records that match your criteria. From here, you can click on a defendant’s name to get a downloadable and printable copy of a court document with details of the case. Typically, these documents include a lot of details, such as information about the charges, as well as the court date and any fines or sentences related to the case.
If you wish to find information involving criminal court cases tried before June 30, 2017, you must contact the Superior Court Criminal Division Record Room.
Here’s the contact information:
Union County Superior Court Criminal Division
2 Broad St., Tower Building, Floor 5
Elizabeth, NJ 07207
Phone: 908.787.1650, ext. 21250
Office hours are Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Determine if Someone Has a History of Crime in Union County New Jersey via the Superior Court Clerk’s Office
You can also order copies of criminal records through the Union County Superior Court Clerk’s Office using the online request form.5
You may download the form and complete it to the best of your knowledge. Make sure you enter “Union” on the line for “County” and “Criminal” for the “Division” line. Also be sure to check “Superior Court Clerk’s Office.”
Once you’ve completed the form, you can save it to your computer. Then you must register for a free Judiciary Electronic Document Submission (JEDS) account, if you don’t already have one. The JEDS registration page will walk you through the process.6 You’ll need to supply a username, password, and three security questions and answers, as well as your full name and contact details.
Once you’ve registered for an account, the next step for uploading your request is to select “Judiciary Electronic Document Submission” on the Home Page.
Then select “Create a New Filing.”
This will take you to a page where you can select what kind of document you’re uploading. To request information on Union County criminal cases, you can select the following from the dropdown menus:
- Court: “Criminal”
- Docket type: “Criminal cases”
- Venue: “UNN – UNION”
- Filing category: “Record requests”
You can then choose whether you wish to request a digital plain copy or a plain paper of the record for free. Certification, official seals, and exemplification (which are signed and sealed) cost additional fees.
On the next page, you must enter the year and case number for the record you’re requesting. If you don’t know this information, clicking “Look Up Case Number” will take you to a court case lookup tool.
Once you’ve entered the year and number, you can hit the “Search” button to see a list of results that match the criteria.
On the next page, you can upload the completed record request document and hit “Next.”
Finally, the website allows you to review all of the request details. After your request has been submitted, you’ll receive a confirmation email to the address you provided. Once your order has been processed, you’ll receive the document.
For questions about requesting documents using the JEDS system, email [email protected].
Access Union County Criminal Records Through the Municipal Courts
The municipal courts in Union County try cases related to misdemeanor offenses that are not punishable by jail sentences. These offenses are called “petty disorderly persons offenses” in New Jersey.
Because Union County is so populous, there are numerous municipal courts within its borders. Here’s a list of the five largest jurisdictions to jumpstart your search:
| Municipal Court | Address | Phone Number |
| Elizabeth Municipal Court | 1 Police Plz. Elizabeth, NJ 07201 |
908.558.6800 |
| Union Township Municipal Court | 981 Caldwell Ave. Union, NJ 07083 |
908.851.5400 |
| Linden Municipal Court | 301 N. Wood Ave. Linden, NJ 07036 |
908.474.8429 |
| Westfield Municipal Court | 425 East Broad St. Westfield, NJ 07090 |
908.789.4060 |
| Rahway Municipal Court | 1 City Hall Plz. Rahway, NJ 07065 |
732.827.2039 |
To find the contact information for other municipal courts in Union County, you can search “[city name] New Jersey municipal court” using Google or any other search engine.
Alternatively, you can use the New Jersey Judiciary Records Request Form to submit a record request online. The section in this article on requesting copies of Union County court records contains instructions for using this method.
How To Run a Union County New Jersey Warrant Search
The most efficient way to find out if someone has an open warrant is by contacting the Union County Sheriff’s Office. In particular, requesters should call the office’s Fugitives and Warrants division at 908.527.4480.
Alternatively, you can complete the official Request for Access to Government Records form to track down records about Union County warrants. You can then mail the form or take it in person to the Sheriff’s Office at the following address:
Union County Sheriff’s Office
10 Elizabethtown Plz.
Elizabeth, NJ 07207
In addition, you can use the contact information for the Union County Police Department and other municipal police departments found in the section on criminal records above to ask about potential warrants.
However, keep in mind that if you have an open warrant against you and visit the Sheriff’s Office or any other law enforcement agency building, you’ll likely be arrested on the spot.
How To Determine if a Union County Resident Is on Probation
The Union County Probation Division oversees programs for offenders who are serving out their sentences at home, instead of incarceration in jail.
The Probation Division doesn’t have its own website; however, the most efficient way of finding out if someone is on probation in Union County is by calling the office, sending an inquiry by mail (using the Request for Access to Government Records),or visiting in person.
Here’s the contact information:
Union County Probation Division (Albender Building)
1143 E. Jersey St.
Elizabeth, NJ 07201
Phone: 908.787.1650, ext. 21617
In addition, researchers can use the Criminal Judgments Public Access database to find out if a particular criminal case involves a probation sentence. The database can search court records dating back to June 30, 2017. See the section in this resource on searching criminal records for instructions on how to use the court case lookup tool.
Once you’ve found a case record involving the party in question, you can find details of any probation sentence associated with the case in the section of the document labeled “Sentencing Statement.”
How To Acquire a Union County Background Check & Report
Reasons why someone would want to obtain a background check report on themselves or another person include checking your own files to make sure they’re accurate.
Or you may want to conduct a free public records search to find out more about a new colleague, neighbor, or potential love interest.
These are examples of personal background checks. Background checks completed for personal reasons do not require the written consent of the subject.
On the flip side, professional background checks are those undertaken on the behalf of a company, nonprofit, landlord, or licensing agency, or other entity. They can be part of pre-employment, volunteer, or tenant screenings, as well as for licensing purposes.
There are several types of professional checks, including Level 1 checks that are based on the subject’s name and Level 2 checks that use fingerprinting to look up someone’s records.
And unlike personal background checks, by law, you must have the written consent of the subject prior to undertaking a professional check. That’s according to the U.S. Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).8
If you suspect that you’ve been the victim of a background check that violates FCRA, you can contact the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or the Federal Trade Commission for help. The last section of this article also contains more information about protections for workers and consumers.
Conduct a Personal Background Check in Union County — Conducting a personal background check can be done by checking public records through the agencies seen here or through third party providers — however, keep in mind that it’s illegal to use any of the information gained from a public records search to harass or stalk another person.
Request a Professional New Jersey Background Check — Researchers can also order a professional background check from the New Jersey State Police (NJSP). The NJSP conducts name- and fingerprint-based checks for companies, nonprofits, and licensing agencies. Individuals can also request a personal record check to make sure there are no inaccuracies in their own files.
The NJSP conducts five types of checks that are based on the state’s Criminal History Record Information (CHRI):
- Personal record request for New Jersey residents
- Personal record request for out-of-state residents
- Volunteer Review Operation (VRO) for nonprofit organizations serving youths
- Noncriminal justice volunteer background checks
- Name-based checks of state criminal records for both companies and volunteer organizations
Whether or not you live in New Jersey, you can follow the same steps to request a personal record check. The first step is to schedule a fingerprinting appointment through the IdentoGO website or by calling +1.877.503.5981 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays or 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturdays. You can select the request service code from the NJSP website that best fits your situation.
Once you’ve attended the IdentoGO appointment and your fingerprints have been collected, you will be able to download a Personal Record Request letter with the results within 24 to 72 hours.9 This service costs $45.73 per background check, payable only by debit or credit card.
If a company, volunteer organization, or any other entity requires you to undergo a fingerprint-based background check, you will be emailed a 212B Name-Check Criminal History Record Request. You’ll also be sent a service code to use to set up an appointment with IdentoGO. You may be required to cover the costs of this record check.
Fees for employment screenings are $58.98, whereas volunteer checks cost $26.98.
How To Review New Jersey Criminal Records Through State & Federal Resources
Beyond Union County, there are agencies throughout New Jersey and the U.S. that you can contact to look up someone’s criminal record. They include:
- New Jersey State Police Criminal History Record Information (CHRI) Checks: Order your own personal record check or request a professional background check about another personal with their written consent.10 See the section of this resource on background checks for more information.
- New Jersey Courts Public Access System: Search this public records repository for information on criminal cases tried in the state.
- New Jersey Department of Corrections Offender Search Form: Run a free check of current and previous inmates in the state’s correctional facilities.11
- Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Search: Search the records of inmates currently incarcerated in federally-run prisons.
- New Jersey Sex Offender Internet Registry: Look up potential offenders in the state by location, name, and even email address.
- The U.S. Justice Department’s National Sex Offender Public Website: Search sex offenders nationwide by name and location.
How To Perform a Union County New Jersey Court Case Lookup
To get ahold of court records, it’s best to know that the Union County Superior Court is the county-level trial court. The court consists of the following divisions:
- Criminal Division: Tries felony and serious misdemeanor cases
- Civil Division: Tries cases related to small- and large-claim lawsuits, probate, contract, and other civil matters.
- Family Division: Tries juvenile cases, as well as any cases involving family relationships, including child support and divorce cases.
The New Jersey Court system’s website provides the contact information for all three divisions of the Union County Superior Court.12
There are also numerous municipal courts within Union County that try cases related to traffic violations, ordinance violations, and “disorderly persons offenses” (misdemeanors punishable by fine). The municipal courts also often hold arraignments and other preliminary events for criminal cases that will eventually be sent to the Superior Court.
In New Jersey, there’s also the state-level Supreme Court (which handles appeals for all county courts), as well as a Tax Court.
To request copies of records from any court in New Jersey, you can use the New Jersey Judicial Records Request Form. This form can be submitted by mail, fax, email, or in-person drop-off. You can also submit it online using a JEDS account.
See the section above on requesting copies of criminal case records for a detailed walkthrough of uploading a JEDS request.
It’s also possible to perform a Union County case search by using the New Jersey Courts Public Access site.13 Researchers can use the site to look up criminal and civil cases — but not those tried by the Superior Court’s Family Division.
How To View & Obtain Union County New Jersey Vital Records (Marriage, Divorce, Birth & Death)
Vital records are records maintained by government agencies that have to do with significant life events such as births, marriages, and deaths.
There are many reasons why you may want to look up New Jersey public records involving these events in Union County. For example, you may want to access your own birth certificate in order to apply for a passport. Or you may want to find out if someone is married before agreeing to a date.
New Jersey law restricts who can access different types of vital records. This article will cover the most efficient legal ways of obtaining this information.
Review Marital Records (Marriage, Divorce & Dissolution of Marriage) via Official Channels
In New Jersey, access to marriage records less than 50 years old is restricted to the registrants named on the document, as well as their parents or legal guardians, spouses, children, grandchildren, and siblings.
Records older than 50 years can be accessed by any member of the public for genealogical or historical purposes.
Marriage certificates are maintained by the municipalities in which the marriage was solemnized, as well as by the New Jersey Office of Vital Statistics and Registry.14 If you are not authorized to access marriage records in New Jersey, you may still find out this information by using a third-party records search service.
Order Marriage Records From Municipal Registrars — If you’re authorized to access a marriage certificate in the state of New Jersey, you can do so by directly contacting a registrar serving the municipality in which the marriage took place.
The New Jersey Department of Health website contains a list of all municipal registrars in Union County, along with their contact information.
Alternatively, authorized individuals may submit a request for marriage records through the Vital Statistics departments of several townships and cities in Union County. Here’s a list of the five largest municipality agencies that allow researchers to order marriage certificates:
| Record Custodian | Address | Phone Number |
| City of Elizabeth Office of Vital Statistics | 50 Winfield Scott Plz. Elizabeth, NJ 07201 |
908.820.4082 |
| Union Township Office of Vital Statistics | 1976 Morris Ave. Union, NJ 07083 |
908.851.8507 |
| Linden City Clerk’s Office | 301 N. Wood Ave. Linden, NJ 07036 |
908.474.8452 |
| Westfield Office of Vital Statistics | 425 E. Broad St. Westfield, NJ 07090 |
908.789.4070, ext. 4077 |
| City of Rahway Office of Vital Statistics | 1 City Hall Plz. Rahway, NJ 07065 |
732.827.2085 |
To find another municipal Vital Statistics office in Union County, search “[city or township] New Jersey Office of Vital Statistics” using Google or another search engine.
Request Marriage Records via the N.J. Office of Vital Statistics & Registry — The New Jersey Department of Health’s Office of Vital Statistics and Registry maintains Union County marriage records dating back to 1941, along with domestic partnership certificates from 2008 onwards and civil union records dating back to 2007.
If you’re authorized to request a copy of a marriage certificate, you may do so online using the Vital Records Online Service. The cost is $25 for the first copy, plus an extra $2 for each additional copy of the same record. In addition, every order incurs a $5 processing fee and a $5 identity verification fee. Payment can be made by debit or credit card.
To use the service, you must supply the following information:
- Your full name
- Your date of birth
- Your mailing address
- Your relationship to a registrant listed on the marriage record
- The reason for your request
- The number of copies you’d like
- The full names of both registrants
- The date when the marriage occurred
- The city and county in which the marriage was solemnized
Once you’ve submitted your order, it takes four to six weeks for the copy of the record to be mailed to you.
In addition, it’s possible to visit the New Jersey DOH’s Office of Vital Statistics and Registry to order a copy of a marriage certificate in person and to pay by check or money order (the same fees apply).
DOH Office of Vital Statistics and Registry
140 East Front St.
Trenton, NJ 08625
Phone: 609.292.4087
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Find Marriage Records Through the N.J. State Archives — The New Jersey State Department also maintains marriage records dating back as far as 1665 in its archives.
Researchers can locate marriage records made between 1665 and 1799 in New Jersey through the online marriage records index. Copies of these records can be ordered for $5 apiece with a credit or debit card by using this online service.
In addition, the State Archives maintains marriage records for Union County made between 1857 and 1878. Copies of these certificates also cost $5 each and can be ordered through the mail by using the following contact information:
New Jersey State Archives
P.O. Box 307
Trenton, NJ 08625
Email: [email protected]
The State Archives is currently conserving marriage records dated from May 1, 1848, to 100 years before the current year.
These records can be ordered by check or money order (payable to “New Jersey General Treasury”) for $10 apiece. Use the Marriage Record Search Request form to order one of these records.15
Find Divorce Records From the N.J. Superior Court Clerk — Unlike other counties, Union County doesn’t allow researchers to find out information on divorce cases through a court case search tool.
Therefore, if you want to check if someone is married or not in Union County, the most efficient method may be using a third-party records search service.
That said, if you need a copy of your own Certificate of Divorce or Final Judgment of Divorce, you can order one from the Superior Court.
The New Jersey Superior Court system allows authorized individuals (registrants, parents or guardians, siblings, children, and grandchildren) to request Union County divorce records for dissolutions made since 2015 from its centralized office.
Certificates of Divorce cost $10, while a certified copy of a Final Judgment of Divorce costs $25. Payment can be made in the form of check or money order (payable to “Treasurer – State of New Jersey”).
Requests must be made using the official New Jersey Judiciary Records Request Form.
To order a divorce record copy online, use the JEDS system. See the section on requesting criminal records for helpful instructions on how to use this service.
Alternatively, you can mail the request form and payment to the following address:
Superior Court Clerk’s Office
Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex
P.O. Box 971
Trenton, NJ 08625
For more information, call the customer service line at 609.421.6100
If you need a copy of a divorce record dated prior to 2015 and are authorized to receive one, contact the Union County Superior Court Family Division for details:
Union County Superior Court – Family Division
Union Family Courthouse
2 Cherry St., Fl. 3
Elizabeth, NJ 07207
Phone: 908.787.1650, ext. 21320
Find Union County Birth & Death Information via State & Municipal Agencies
In New Jersey, ordering a copy of a birth certificate or a death certificate is nearly the same as ordering a marriage certificate through the New Jersey Department of Health’s Office of Vital Statistics and Registry. This agency maintains birth records dating back to 1923 and death records going back to 1941.
Authorized persons can use the Vital Records Online Service to order copies of either a certificate of birth or a certificate of death.16 The cost is $25 for the first copy, plus $2 for each extra copy of the same record. Plus, there’s a $5 processing fee and a $5 identity verification fee for each transaction.
In New Jersey, only the following may order one of these vital records:
- The registrant (for birth certificates)
- Their parents
- Their children
- Their siblings
- Their spouses
- Their grandparents
- Their legal guardians
- Other legal representatives
In addition, authorized requesters can contact the different municipal Vital Statistics records in Union County to request copies of records. Use the contact information found in the section on requesting marriage records above.
If you’re not an authorized individual, you may want to use a third-party records search service to find out this information.
How To Search Free Property Records, Ownership & Taxes in Union County
The most efficient way to look up who owns a property in Union County is to use the Tax Assessment records search tool.17 Although this tool is hosted by another county, it has an option to search Union County and others within the state.
You can use this tool to look up both current owners and related deeds. You can narrow down your search of Union County by selecting a district, or choose “All” from the drop-down menu.
To check public records concerning property in Union County, click “More Info” in the search results. You’ll see the property address, owner’s address, size of lot, and tax amount.
If you want to find out more information about property ownership in Union County, you can search for records through the Name Search tool.18 This tool allows users to look up a variety of document types — including deeds, mortgages, and liens — by supplying a last name and a date range.
The search results won’t give you the address of the property in question. Instead, you will see the book and page number for the document kept by the Clerk’s Office. You can then submit a Request for Access to Government Records form to request a copy of the record.
Copies cost 5 cents per page for letter-size documents and 7 cents per page for legal-size documents.
Here’s the contact information for the Clerk’s Office for more details:
Union County Clerk
2 Broad St.
Elizabeth, NJ 07207
Phone: 908.527.4787
Office hours are Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
One other way to view property records is by contacting the relevant municipal tax assessor. Here’s a list of the tax assessors for the the five largest municipalities in Union County:
| Record Custodian | Address | Phone Number |
| City of Elizabeth Tax Assessor | 50 Winfield Scott Plz. Elizabeth, NJ 07201 |
908.820.4136 |
| Union Township Tax Assessor | 1976 Morris Ave. Union, NJ 07083 |
908.851.8505 |
| Linden City Tax Assessor | 301 N. Wood Ave. Linden, NJ 07036 |
908.474.8544 |
| Westfield Tax Assessor | 425 E. Broad St. Westfield, NJ 07090 |
908.789.4055 |
| City of Rahway Tax Assessor | 1 City Hall Plz. Rahway, NJ 07065 |
732.827.2030 |
To find the contact information for any other municipal tax assessor in Union County, type “[city or township”] New Jersey tax assessor” into Google or another search engine.
Using Union County Public Records Ethically & Understanding Citizens’ Rights
Thanks to the federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and New Jersey’s Open Public Records Act (OPRA), it’s relatively stress-free to find public records kept by Union County custodians.
That said, it’s imperative to always obey the law when it comes to public records. OPRA makes it illegal for anyone convicted of a crime to search public records to find out information about victims and their families.
In addition, the information gathered from a public records search must never be used to stalk, harass, or intimidate another person — nor to commit any type of crime, including identity theft.
Plus, as mentioned in the section of this resource on background checks, anyone looking up another person’s history for personal reasons must not use the information for pre-employment screenings, licensing purposes, or tenant decisions.
Researching public records for these purposes constitutes a professional background check, and you must have the written consent of the subject before the search can be started.
The U.S. Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) regulates the use of consumer information for professional background checks and other uses.19 FCRA grants everyone:
- The right to know if personal information has been used against them
- The right to find out what information is in their files
- The right to request a credit score
- The right to dispute any information in their files that is inaccurate
- The right to seek damages for FCRA violations.
If you believe you are a victim of a FCRA violation, contact the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for help.
New Jersey’s Opportunity to Compete Act also forbids potential employers from asking about someone’s criminal history in the initial employment screening process.
The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development can provide help for any worker who has a labor-related complaint.20 The New Jersey Attorney General’s Division on Civil Rights is another good resource for anyone who believes they have been discriminated against.
That said, if you want to learn more about somebody else’s history — or want to double-check that there are no mistakes in your own files — a free search of Union County public records can prove invaluable.
References
1Union County Sheriff’s Office. (n.d.). Inmate Look-Up Tool. Retrieved November 01, 2023, from <http://inmate.ucnj.org:8085/IML>
2State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. (n.d.). Open Public Records Act and Records That Are Exempt From OPRA. Retrieved November 01, 2023, from <https://www.nj.gov/dep/opra/exemptions.html>
3Union County New Jersey. (n.d.). Contact the Union County Police. Retrieved November 01, 2023, from <https://ucnj.org/public-safety/division-of-police/contact-the-union-county-police/>
4New Jersey Courts. (n.d.). Criminal Judgments Public Access. Retrieved November 01, 2023, from <https://portal.njcourts.gov/webe41/jocpa_internet/jsp_public/home_public.jsp>
5Official Website of the New Jersey Judiciary. (n.d.). Records Request Form. Retrieved November 01, 2023, from <https://www.njcourts.gov/sites/default/files/forms/10200_records_req.pdf>
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