If you’re facing criminal charges in New Jersey, it’s important that you help your case in any way you can. One of the best things you can do is get a copy of a police report for your arrest in New Jersey.
New Jersey defendants often have multiple pathways for getting a police report for an arrest. Some police departments upload arrest reports to online portals, while others only offer in-person retrieval. Generally, these reports take several days to be made available to defendants. If you’re having difficulty obtaining your report, your attorney can help you. Once they get a copy of your arrest report, your lawyer can use the information within it to better understand your case and build a solid defense.
Our attorneys are prepared to help New Jersey criminal defendants in need of representation. For a free case evaluation with the Atlantic City criminal defense attorneys at the Law Offices of John J. Zarych, call today at (609) 616-4956.
Can I Get a Police Report for My New Jersey Arrest Online?
If you’ve been recently arrested in New Jersey and are currently awaiting trial, it can benefit you to get a copy of the police report regarding your arrest. In New Jersey, some police departments upload these documents to a secure online portal for defendants and their attorneys to access.
Some, but not all, New Jersey police departments make arrest records available online. If the police department that administered your arrest does, you can visit its website for specific instructions on how to download a copy of your police report.
If you’re awaiting trial and out on bail, you can do this yourself. However, if you’re awaiting trial in county jail, your Atlantic City criminal defense attorney can obtain a digital copy of your police report on your behalf.
How Can I Get a Copy of a New Jersey Police Report for My Arrest in Person?
Generally, the easiest way to get a copy of a New Jersey police report for an arrest is by visiting the right police department in person. By doing so, defendants awaiting trial or their New Jersey criminal defense attorneys can get a paper copy of a police report for an arrest.
If you need a copy of a police report for a New Jersey arrest, you can go to the specific police department whose officers arrested you. Once there, criminal defendants or their attorneys can request a paper copy of a police report.
New Jersey police departments generally have allotted hours for defendants or their attorneys to obtain copies of police reports in person. Call ahead or visit the specific police department’s website to learn its hours of operation.
How Much Does a Copy of a Police Report for a New Jersey Arrest Cost?
Unfortunately, police reports for New Jersey arrests aren’t free. Defendants in New Jersey need to be aware of the potential cost of obtaining copies of their arrest reports, so they can successfully do so.
Paper copies of arrest reports picked up at a local New Jersey police station generally cost a few cents per page. Each police department has its own rules regarding cost, but the price of paper police reports is generally low.
If you’re able to download a digital copy of an arrest report online, the cost may be higher. New Jersey police departments that upload copies of arrest reports online often use a third-party platform that determines the cost.
How Soon After a New Jersey Arrest Can I Get My Police Report?
While it’s important to get a copy of the corresponding police report immediately after an arrest in New Jersey, defendants may have to wait a bit before their report is ready. The average wait time to access these documents is several business days following an arrest.
After making an arrest, New Jersey police officers have to complete complicated paperwork, including an arrest report. Finalizing these reports can take some time, and officers then have to file them properly. Expect to wait several days for your arrest report to be made available, online or in person.
If it’s taking too long for the police report regarding your arrest to be made available, your Brigantine criminal defense attorney can reach out to the necessary agencies to inquire about the delay. Accessing this report can be crucial for your defense, so it’s important to obtain it as soon as possible.
Why Should I Get a Police Report After an Arrest in New Jersey?
Police reports for New Jersey arrests contain crucial details that can ultimately help your attorney when building your defense. That’s why it’s necessary for criminal defendants to obtain a copy of the police report specific to their arrest in New Jersey.
New Jersey arrest reports cover the basics: who, what, when, and where. Your arrest police will note the circumstances of your arrest, where it happened, and what the cause was. If there are any eyewitnesses to your arrest, their information will also be noted in the report. This can be helpful to your New Jersey defense attorney for several reasons.
First, if the eyewitnesses noted in a police report can corroborate your defense, having their information can help you beat the charges against you. Secondly, police reports are often crucial to the prosecution’s case. If your attorney can show that an arrest report is inaccurate, it can be incredibly beneficial to your defense. Your lawyer can scour an arrest report for inaccuracies that demonstrate law enforcement’s biases or misconduct, helping to clear your name of wrongdoing.
If you’ve been arrested in New Jersey, getting a copy of the corresponding police report is crucial. It could be the difference between you beating the charges against you and not.
Call Our Attorneys for Help Getting a Police Report for Your New Jersey Arrest
If you’re facing criminal charges in New Jersey, reach out to our lawyers for help. For a free case evaluation with the Wildwood criminal defense attorneys at the Law Offices of John J. Zarych, call today at (609) 616-4956.
