REQUEST FOR PUBLIC
RECORDS
Public Records Law Takes Effect in New Jersey
Effective July 8, 2002
Members of the public are hereby advised that the provisions of the New Jersey Public Records Act, N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1, et seq., allow for public access to government records, but contain various exceptions listed below.
Members of the public who are requesting copies of records must complete the Request for Public Records form which can be obtained in the police records bureau office and or by clicking here (Adobe Acrobat). The form must be delivered in person or by mail to:
Saddle Brook Police Department
Attn: Records / OPRA
63 Market Street
Saddle Brook, NJ 07663
The statute provides for a right to appeal any denial or failure to provide access to a government record. A person who is denied access to a government record by the custodian of the record, at the option of the requestor, may:
Ø institute a proceeding to challenge the custodian's decision by filing an action in Superior Court which shall be heard in the vicinage where it is filed by a Superior Court Judge who has been designated to hear such cases because of that judge's knowledge and expertise in matters relating to access to government records; or
Ø in lieu of filing an action in Superior Court, file a complaint with the Government Records Council established pursuant to section 8 of P.L.2001, c.404 (C.47:1A-7).
The right to institute any proceeding under this section shall be solely that of the requestor. Any such proceeding shall proceed in a summary or expedited manner. The public agency shall have the burden of proving that the denial of access is authorized by law. If it is determined that access has been improperly denied, the court or agency head shall order that access be allowed. A requestor who prevails in any proceeding shall be entitled to a reasonable attorney's fee.
Privileged or Protected Category Authority
Autopsy Reports
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1,
et seq.
Child abuse or sex assault victim name or address
N.J.S.A. 2A:82-46b
Court records sealed
Executive Order 69
Credit Card Numbers
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1, et seq.
Grand Jury testimony, information
Court Rule 3:6-7
Grievance information with public employer
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1,
et seq.
Domestic Violence data
N.J.S.A. 2C:25-33
Drivers’ license numbers
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1, et
seq.
DYFS information
N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.10
Electronic Surveillance Materials
N.J.S.A. 2A:156A-19
Emergency or security information or procedures
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1, et seq.
Employee sexual harassment complaints
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1, et seq.
Fingerprint cards
Executive Order 69
Juvenile records
N.J.S.A. 2A:4A-60
Labor Negotiation information, strategy or positions
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1, et seq.
Medical Examiner Photographs
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1, et seq.
Otherwise inappropriate material
Executive Order 69
Pension and personnel records
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1, et seq.
Photographs
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1, et seq.; Exec. Order 69
Safety of persons or public
N.J.S.A.
47:1A-1.1, et seq.; Exec. Order 69
Security measures and surveillance techniques
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1, et seq.
Social Security Numbers
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1, et seq.
Unlisted Telephone Numbers
N.J.S.A.
47:1A-1.1, et seq.
Victim locations (Domestic Violence)
N.J.S.A. 2C:25-26c.
Victim records
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1, et seq.
Record has been destroyed/not retained pursuant to:
Records Retention and
Disposition Schedule
(NJ
Dept. of State, Div. of Archives Mgmt.)