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Try to Get a Lawyer

The court system can be confusing, and it is a good idea to get a lawyer if you can. If you cannot afford a lawyer, you may wish to contact the legal services program in your county to see if you qualify for free legal services. Their telephone number can be found in your local yellow pages under Legal Aid or Legal Services.

If you do not qualify for free legal services and need help in locating an attorney, you can contact the bar association in your county. Their telephone number can also be found in your local yellow pages. Most county bar associations have a lawyer referral service. The county bar lawyer referral service can supply you with the names of attorneys in your area who usually are willing to handle your particular type of case. Such attorneys are sometimes willing to consult with people in your situation at a reduced fee.

There are also a variety of organizations of minority lawyers throughout New Jersey, as well as organizations of lawyers who handle specialized types of cases. Ask your county court staff for a list of lawyer referral services that include these organizations.

Keep Copies of All Papers

Make and keep for yourself copies of all completed forms and any canceled checks, money orders, sales receipts, bills, contract estimates, letters, leases, photographs and other important documents that relate to your case.

What You Should Expect If You Represent Yourself

While you have the right to represent yourself in court, you should not expect any special treatment, help, or attention from the court. You must still comply with the rules of the court, even if you are not familiar with them. The following is a list of some things the court staff can and cannot do for you. Please read it carefully before asking the court staff for help.

We can explain and answer questions about how the court works.

We can tell you what the requirements are to have your case considered by the court.

We can give you some information from your case file.

We can provide you with samples of court forms that are available.

We can provide you with guidance on how to fill out forms.

We can usually answer questions about court deadlines.

We cannot give you legal advice. Only your lawyer can give you legal advice.

We cannot tell you whether or not you should bring your case to court.

We cannot give you an opinion about what will happen if you bring your case to court.

We cannot recommend a lawyer, but we can provide you with the telephone number of a local lawyer referral service.

We cannot talk to the judge for you about what will happen in your case.

We cannot let you talk to the judge outside of court.

We cannot change an order issued by a judge.

Locate Your Records

In order to prepare your expungement petition and prove your eligibility, you will need to get the following information:

The date of your arrest as an adult or when you were taken into custody as a juvenile.

The statute(s) and the offense(s) for which you were arrested, taken into custody as a juvenile, convicted or adjudicated delinquent.

The original indictment, accusation, summons, docket number, warrant number or complaint number. Include all, if more than one.

If you must locate your records on your own for a juvenile delinquency matter, contact the Superior Court Family Division Office in the county where you were taken into custody as a juvenile, where charges were filed, or where the adjudication occurred, and they will advise you how copies of those records can be obtained. A list of county Family Division Offices appears at the end of this guide.

If you were taken into custody as a juvenile and no charges were filed against you, you must contact the appropriate law enforcement agency for information related to that incident.

The date of the disposition, which could be the date of the conviction or adjudication of delinquency, date of not guilty verdict or date of dismissal.

The specific punishment or other disposition.

If you had an attorney when you were arrested as an adult and/or taken into custody as a juvenile and charged, check first to see if he or she has this information in your case file; if so, this can save you quite a bit of time.

If you must locate your records on your own for an indictable/criminal conviction or arrest, contact the Superior Court Criminal Case Management Office in the county where the arrest or conviction occurred and they will advise you how copies of those records can be obtained. A list of county Criminal Case Management Offices appears at the end of this guide.

You might also contact the county prosecutor. A list of county prosecutors' offices with addresses and telephone numbers appears at the end of this guide. Explain that you are interested in expunging your records and ask for the information listed above, or ask to look at your file if this is permitted. You may also be able to find information you need on disorderly persons offenses by contacting the clerk of the municipal court(s) in which you were prosecuted, or the police department involved in your arrest(s) as an adult or that took you into custody as a juvenile. If you cannot get all of the information, you need to follow Step 1 on the next page.

The numbered steps that follow explain what forms you will need to fill out and what to do with them. Specific directions on filling out each form appear before each of the attached forms. Follow these directions carefully. Each form should be typed or clearly printed on 8 ½ " x 11" white paper only. Forms may not be filed on a different size or color paper.

Step 1: Request State Police Criminal History Record – Fingerprint Check

This step is only necessary if you do not already have your criminal/juvenile history information about your arrests, charges and dispositions.

In order to obtain your criminal/juvenile history record (also known as a rap sheet) from the New Jersey State Police you will need to be fingerprinted. The State Police use the electronic fingerprint scanning services of a private company, Sagem Morpho, Inc. You will need to contact Sagem Morpho, Inc. to schedule an appointment for fingerprinting. You can obtain additional information and schedule an appointment via the internet at bioapplicant.com/nj, or by calling their toll free telephone: 1-877-503-5981.

Additional information about obtaining criminal/juvenile history record checks can also be obtained from the New Jersey State Police website njsp.org/about/serv_chrc.html, or by calling their Criminal Information Unit at 609-882-2000 ext. 2918.

Note: The State Police will have a criminal/juvenile history only if you were fingerprinted when you were arrested. If you were not fingerprinted, and only a complaint was signed against you when you were arrested, you will still have a record with the police department and the court, but you will not have a record sheet within the Division of State Police, State Bureau of Investigation.

Step 2: Complete These Forms

Form A - Petition For Expungement The Petition for Expungement states that you are requesting an Expungement Order and states why you qualify. Complete the Petition for Expungement Order by following the instructions for Form A.

You must then file the petition in the county where you were arrested as an adult or taken into custody as a juvenile. If you were arrested as an adult or taken into custody as a juvenile in more than one county, contact the Criminal Case Management Office in either county and ask whether they will allow you to file for expungement of your entire record in that county.

Next, you must complete the Verification page and sign it in the presence of a Notary Public because this page must bear a notary seal.

Form B - Order For Hearing

The Order for Hearing is used by the judge to schedule a hearing. The Superior Court judge assigned to your case will usually schedule a hearing between 35 and 60 days after he or she gets your petition. Fill out the Order for Hearing by following the instructions for Form B.

Form C - Expungement Order The Expungement Order is the official document that will be signed by the judge if your Petition for Expungement is granted. Complete the Expungement Order by following the instructions for Form C.

Step 3: File and Serve the Forms

Make three (3) copies of your notarized Petition for Expungement (Form A), Order for Hearing (Form B), and proposed Expungement Order (Form C). The original and two (2) copies should be filed with the court. Keep one copy of each for your records.

Form D - Cover Letter

The Cover Letter is a form letter that describes to the Superior Court Criminal Case Management Office the contents of your package and the purpose of the enclosed forms. Fill in the blanks on the Cover Letter (Form D) and attach the Cover Letter to the originals and the two photocopies that you are filing (keep one copy of each for your records). Include two large self-addressed envelopes with the appropriate postage stamped on each envelope. These envelopes will be used to send filed copies of your package back to you. Mail this package to the Criminal Case Management Office in the county where the arrest and/or prosecution occurred. If you prefer, you may file this package in person. A list of the Criminal Case Management Offices where these forms should be mailed, along with telephone numbers, appears at the end of this guide.

There is a filing fee of $52.50. Most offices do not accept personal checks, so you should include a money order or certified check made out to the Treasurer, State of N.J.

Step 4: Distributing the Filed Copies

One copy of the Petition for Expungement, Order for Hearing, and the proposed Expungement Order will be mailed back to you marked “Filed” and assigned a “Docket Number.” The Order for Hearing will also state the time and the date for your hearing.

Immediately after receiving the filed copies from the court, make at least seven (7) copies of the Petition for Expungement, Order for Hearing, and the proposed Expungement Order.

Mail one copy of each, immediately, by certified mail, return receipt requested, to each of the following government agencies that were involved with your case(s):

The Attorney General of New Jersey.

The Superintendent of State Police, Expungement Unit.

The County Prosecutor.

The Clerk of the municipal court if a municipal court heard the matter.

The Chief of Police or other head of the police department where the offense was committed or the arrest was made.

The chief law enforcement officer of any other law enforcement agency of the state that participated in the arrest.

The Warden or superintendent of any institution in which you were incarcerated.

The County Probation Division should be provided a copy if you were granted a conditional discharge, enrolled into the Pretrial Intervention Program, enrolled in a juvenile diversion program (juvenile conference committee or intake service conference), granted a deferred disposition, performed community service, owed fines or restitution or you served a term of probation.

The Division of Criminal Justice, Records and Identification Unit should be provided a copy if your case was processed through the State Grand Jury.

The County Family Division should be provided a copy if you are requesting the expungement of any juvenile delinquency matters.

Step 4: Continued

Form E - Cover Letter

You may use the Cover Letter (Form E) when mailing the copies to these agencies. Fill in the blanks on the Cover Letter (Form

E)and attach the Cover Letter to each set of copies.

You should mail the copies of these forms right away, because the law requires service or mailing within five (5) days from the date that the Order for Hearing was signed. Mail them at the post office, by certified mail, return receipt requested.

Form F - Proof of Notice

After you have received the certified mail return receipt cards back from the post office, contact the Criminal Case Management Office, and ask the clerk whether the court requires that the proof of mailing be submitted at or prior to the hearing. If proof is required to be produced at the hearing, make sure that you bring the green certified mail return receipt cards and the Proof of Notice (Form F) to court with you on the day of the hearing. Complete the Proof of Notice form by following the instructions for Form F. If proof is required to be submitted prior to the hearing make sure that you bring or mail the green certified mail return receipt cards and the Proof of Notice (Form F) to the Criminal Case Management Office immediately. If you choose to mail this information to the court, you should send it by certified mail, return receipt requested.

Step 5: Go to the Hearing

Arrive at the court on your assigned hearing date about 15 minutes early. (Not all counties require you to appear for the hearing. If your appearance is not required, you must mail the Proof of Notice and the green return receipt cards to the Criminal Case Management office where you filed your petition, at least one week before the scheduled hearing.)

If you are required to appear, take your copies of the filed Petition for Expungement, the Expungement Order, and the green return receipt cards to the hearing (unless you previously filed them with the court). When you arrive at the court, tell the court clerk that you are there.

If any law enforcement officers object to the expungement, they will tell the judge the reason. The judge may ask you some questions and will decide whether to grant or deny you an expungement. If there is no opposition, the judge will, in most cases, grant your expungement.

If no law enforcement officers object to the expungement, the court may order the expungement of your records without a hearing. If this happens, you will receive a signed and filed Expungement Order in the mail.

It is a good practice to call the court the day before the hearing to confirm that it is still on the court's calendar.

Step 6: Distribute Your Finalized Expungement Order

Immediately after you receive a copy of the Expungement Order signed by the judge and stamped "Filed" by the court, mail a copy of the Expungement Order, by certified mail, return receipt requested, to each of the following:

The Attorney General of New Jersey.

The Superintendent of State Police, Expungement Unit.

The County Prosecutor.

The Clerk of the municipal court if a municipal court heard the matter.

The Chief of Police or other head of the police department where the offense was committed or the arrest was made.

The chief law enforcement officer of any other law enforcement agency of the state that participated in the arrest.

The Warden or superintendent of any institution in which you were incarcerated.

The Records Division of any institution in which you were incarcerated.

The Identification Bureau in the county where the arrest was made or where you were incarcerated (a list of County Identification Bureaus appears at the end of this guide).

The County Probation Division should be provided a copy if you were granted a conditional discharge, enrolled into the Pretrial Intervention Program, enrolled in a juvenile diversion program (juvenile conference committee or intake service conference), granted a deferred disposition, performed community service, owed fines or restitution or you served a term of probation.

Step 6: Continued

The Division of Criminal Justice, Records and Identification Unit should be provided a copy if your case was processed through the State Grand Jury

The County Family Division should be provided a copy if you are requesting the expungement of any juvenile delinquency matters.

Form G - Cover Letter

You may use this Cover Letter (Form G) when mailing the Expungement Order to these agencies. Fill in the blanks on the Cover Letter (Form G) and attach the Cover Letter to each set of copies.

Keep the mailing receipts and the green cards that are returned to you as proof that the documents were received.

In Conclusion

As a final reminder, make sure that you have completely followed all of the steps required in this guide. This is very important because even though your records may be eligible for expungement, if you miss any of the required steps, your Petition for Expungement may be denied. In that case, you will have to start over.

We have tried to explain as simply as possible the steps to get your records expunged. The forms that you can use are in the following section.