Bergen County Inmate Search
Law enforcement officers in Bergen County arrest people with warrants or without warrants when they break the law. The minimum standard for arrest in Bergen County is probable cause. After an arrest, the suspect can either be taken to the police station or Bergen County jail for booking and holding. A suspect who needs to be incarcerated to ensure a court appearance is usually taken to jail. The booking process involves taking the suspect’s personal and arrest information, mugshots, fingerprints, and personal belongings, conducting a full-body search, warrant, and health check, and placing the suspect in the holding cell or jail.
Afterward, a detention hearing will be conducted, where the judge will determine if the suspect will be released on their own recognizance, released with certain conditions, or kept in custody until trial. The suspect will be scheduled for a first appearance in court. At the first appearance, the presiding judge will inform the defendant (arrested person) of the charges against them and the potential penalties. The defendant must enter a plea of “guilty” or “not guilty”. The defendant will usually plead not guilty, and the judge will schedule the next court date.
After examining the attorneys’ evidence and arguments, the presiding judge or jury will determine if the defendant is guilty. If the arrested person is found guilty, they may file for an appeal to a higher court. If the defendant is found not guilty, they will be released.
Interested persons can find the person’s arrest, custody, and court information online or in person at the appropriate record custodian offices. For example, the person’s custody information can be retrieved at the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office. The office has an Inmate Look Up tool that requesters can use to search for information regarding people in the county jail. Also, inquirers can visit the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office during business hours to request inmate records.
Inmate records are considered public in the United States and therefore are made available by both traditional governmental agencies as well as third-party websites and organizations. Third-party websites may offer an easier means to search, as these services do not face geographical limitations. However, because third-party sites are not government-sponsored, the information obtained through them may vary from official channels. To find inmate records using third-party aggregate sites, requesting parties must provide:
- The location of the sought-after record, including state, county, and city where the inmate resides.
- The name of the person listed in the record, unless it is a juvenile.
Bergen County Crime and Incarceration Statistics
Based on the 2021 Uniform Crime Report - 1st Quarter- Jan-March, about 373 people were arrested in Bergen County. These people were arrested for murder, rape, robbery, assault, burglary, larceny, and auto theft. However, about 1698 people were arrested in Bergen County in 2020.
Bergen County Prison System
The Sheriff’s Office runs the Bergen County prison system. The Bergen County Jail is a pre-trial adult inmates' central reception and processing center. The jail has over 280 Correction Officers and 1,150 beds with over 1,000 inmates and detainees. About 593 Bergen County offenders are housed in State correctional institutions.
How to Find an Inmate in Bergen County
A record seeker can find an inmate online or in person at the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office. An online inmate request can be made using the Inmate Lookup tool on the Sherrif’s Office website. Online search is free, and comprehensive inmate information can be retrieved. Here is how to find an inmate online in Bergen County:
- Go to the Sherrif’s Office website
- Select “COUNTY JAIL” from the top menu
- Select “INMATE LOOK UP” from the dropdown
- Conduct a search by name, or Unique Identifier or Value
In-person requests can be made at the Office during business hours. In-person inmate search typically attracts search fees. To find an inmate in Bergen County, requesters must have basic information about the inmate, like name and number. The Office typically charges reasonable fees for the search and preparation of inmate records for inspection and copying. The Bergen County Sheriff’s Office is located at:
Bergen County Sheriff's Office
2 Bergen County Plaza
Hackensack, NJ 07601
Phone: (201) 336-3500
Fax: (201) 752-4234
How Does a Bergen County Inmate Search Work?
The New Jersey Open Public Records Act (OPRA) allows law enforcement agencies to disseminate inmate information to members of the public. Therefore, interested persons can inspect or obtain copies of inmate records unless those exempted by law. For instance, criminal investigatory records, victim’s records, and records containing personal identifying information like social security numbers are deemed confidential. Confidential records can be accessed by record holders, their legal representatives, and any other person with a court order. Below are some information contained in a Bergen County inmate search:
- Personal information (full name, sex, date of birth, height, weight, race, hair color, hair length, eye color, and complexion)
- Inmate information (marital status, FBI number, citizen, state ID, INS, COB)
- Incarceration information (current location, current housing section, cell, block, and bed, commitment date, and release date)
- Alias information (name
- Detainer information (comp number and date, issued by and set by)
- Bond information (case number, amount, status, and post date)
- Charge information (case number, offense date, code, description, grade, and degree)
Where to Find a Bergen County Inmate Locator
Requesters can find inmate locators at county jails and state and federal prisons. For example, the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office has an Inmate Locator that can be used to find inmates housed in county jails. A search can be conducted by name (first and last), booking number, permanent number, or state ID.
Information regarding Bergen County inmates housed in state prisons can be found via the Inmate Locator the New Jersey Department of Corrections (DOC) provides. A search can be conducted through the following means:
- SBI Number, Name, and Sex
- Hair Color, Eye Color, and Race
- County(s) of Commitment and Current Facility Location
- Birth Date and Age
Record seekers would be able to retrieve information like inmate’s name, SDI number, race, sex, hair and eye color, ethnicity, height, weight, current prison sentence, admission date, current facility, incarceration history, and aliases. With the Inmate Locator available on the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ website, individuals can find information about Bergen County inmates housed in federal prisons. A search can be done by name or number. Requesters should be able to retrieve inmate information like the inmate’s full name, register number, age, race, sex, and release date.
Alternatively, requesters can find Bergen County inmates via third-party inmate locators. While using these tools, interested persons must provide basic information like inmates’ names and numbers in the appropriate search boxes to facilitate the search. Access to third-party inmate locators typically comes with fees. Additionally, inmate records retrieved from third-party websites cannot be used for official purposes because they are not certified copies.
How to Send Money to a Bergen County Inmate
Families are required to open accounts with a third-party site to be able to send money to inmates. Cash deposits can be made at the front reception machine at the jail, ACE, Wal-Mart, Kmart, and Kroger.
How to Visit a Bergen County Inmate
Bergen County inmates are allowed to receive visitors during visiting hours. Visiting hours vary by housing unit but are usually between 8 am and 9 pm. Only two adults can visit an inmate at a time, and visits only last for 15 minutes. The Bergen County Sheriff’s Office approves a third-party visitation scheduling platform where visitors must request visits. An email of denial or approval will be sent to intending visitors. All visits must be scheduled daily between 8 am and 9 pm with 24 hours advance notice.
The Bergen County Sheriff’s Office allows inmates to meet with medical, legal, religious, and social professionals based on their needs. Therefore, professionals (interpreters, attorneys, clergy, and social or medical professionals) can visit inmates from 7 am to 9:30 pm any day of the week. The Tour Commander on duty must approve the visit. When the professional gets to the jail, they must give their name and ID to the reception officer on duty. Common IDs professionals can take to the jail are motor vehicle license, attorney bar association card, Bergen County Sheriff-issued identification card, and motor vehicle license. When entering the secured area of the jail, the professionals must put their keys, cell phones, tobacco products, coats, and other prohibited items in the jail lockers. Failure to submit these items attracts severe penalties like fines and criminal prosecution. The professional can only bring soft-sided file folders into the jail. Items like highlighters, pens, chewing gum, money, cigarettes, matches, lighters, paper clips, and jewelry are considered contraband. The inmate must not be given anything except legal papers.
Review the Visitation Guidelines for Professionals and Non-Contact Visitation Procedures pages on the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office website for more information about inmate visitations.
How to Send Jail Mail in Bergen County
The Bergen County Sheriff’s Office allows friends, families, and loved ones to send money to inmates at the jail. However, all mail received by the Office is subject to inspection to ensure the safety of inmates. All inmate mail must be sent to:
Bergen County Jail
P.O. Box 0369
Hackensack, NJ 07601-0369
Only publications like magazines, newspapers, and books shipped directly from the publisher are accepted in the county jail. Correspondence or publication containing the following information is not permitted by mail:
- Materials that incite violence based on religion, race, creed, or nationality
- Correspondence or publication containing coded information
- Publications that contain information about activities within or outside the jail that are prohibited by state and federal law
- Correspondence or publication containing information regarding weapons, escape plans, explosives, dangerous substances, and lock picking.
- Material that incites violence or destructive or disruptive behavior towards police officers, jail staff, inmates, and facility programs/ procedures.
- Any material that constitutes an immediate threat to the security and operation of the jail.
Review the Sherrif’s Office Inmate Mail page for more information on sending mail to an inmate housed in Bergen County jail.
Bergen County Jails and Prisons
Below is the list of the names, addresses, and contact information of all the jail facilities, prisons, and detention centers in Bergen County:
Bergen County Jail
160 South River Street
Hackensack, NJ 07601
Phone: (201) 336-3500
Bergen County Juvenile Detention Center
200 North Street
Teterboro, NJ 07608
Phone: (201) 336-3901
Teaneck City Jail
900 Teaneck Road
Teaneck, NJ 07666
Phone: (201) 837-2600
