Camden City Police Blotter
The Camden police blotter tracks arrests, incidents, and calls for service across the city. Camden sits along the Delaware River in Camden County. Searching the police blotter gives residents and the public a way to stay informed about local law enforcement actions. Records are available through the city's Records Management Unit and through OPRA requests. This page explains how to find and request police blotter data in Camden, what offices to contact, and what to expect when you search for public safety records.
Camden Police Records Management
The Camden Police Department maintains a Records Management Unit that handles police blotter data and incident reports. This unit is the main point of contact for anyone looking for police records in Camden. You can reach them at 856-757-7049. The unit processes requests for police reports, accident reports, and other documentation tied to law enforcement activity in the city.
City Hall is located at 520 Market Street, Room 105, Camden, NJ 08102. The Records Management Unit operates out of this location. Walk-in requests are accepted during business hours. You can also submit requests by email to OPRARequest@camdennj.gov. Include as many details as possible when you write in. Dates, locations, and names help staff locate the right records faster.
Below is the Camden Records Management Unit page where requests begin.
This page outlines the steps for requesting police records from the Camden Police Department.
How to Request Camden Police Blotter Records
Camden police blotter records are public under New Jersey law. The Open Public Records Act, or OPRA, gives anyone the right to request government records. The police blotter is classified as an immediate access record under N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1. That means the city must provide it right away. There is no seven-day waiting period for blotter data.
To file a request, use the CORA Connect portal or email OPRARequest@camdennj.gov. You can also visit City Hall in person. City Clerk Luis Pastoriza oversees OPRA compliance for the city. His office ensures that requests are handled within the time frames set by state law.
The Camden OPRA information page is shown below.
Review this page before submitting your request so you know what Camden requires.
When you submit a request, include:
- Your full name and contact information
- A clear description of the records you want
- Dates or date ranges for the blotter entries
- Any case numbers or report numbers you have
- How you want to receive the records
Camden County Prosecutor Records
Some police blotter cases in Camden move to the county level. The Camden County Prosecutor handles serious crimes. Prosecutor records are separate from city police records. For cases involving homicides, major drug offenses, or organized crime, the prosecutor's office takes the lead.
Lesley Sokol serves as the custodian of records for the prosecutor's office. You can request records through the Camden County Prosecutor's resource page. The process follows OPRA rules, but the prosecutor has broader exemptions for criminal investigatory records.
The Camden County Prosecutor's records page is shown below.
Use this resource when your search involves cases handled at the county prosecution level.
What the Camden Police Blotter Contains
The police blotter in Camden is a log of daily police activity. It records facts about each incident. The blotter is not a full case file. It is a summary meant to keep the public informed.
A typical Camden police blotter entry lists the date and time of the event, the location, and the type of call. If an arrest was made, it shows the person's name, age, and charges. Bail information may also appear. Not every entry has all these details. A noise complaint will have less information than a felony arrest. The blotter gives you enough to know what happened and where.
Police blotter records in Camden go back years. Older records may be stored in archives or on microfilm. Recent entries are more likely to be available in digital form. If you need records from a specific time period, mention that in your request so staff can check the right system.
OPRA Rights and Camden Records
New Jersey law is clear about your right to access police blotter records. Under OPRA, any person can request the blotter from any agency in the state. You do not need to give a reason. You do not need to live in Camden. The law applies to everyone.
If Camden denies your request or takes too long, you can file a complaint with the Government Records Council. The GRC reviews disputes between requesters and government agencies. They have ruled many times that police blotter data must be released. Agencies that refuse without a valid legal basis can face consequences.
Some information is exempt from release even on the police blotter. Names of juvenile suspects are not disclosed. Victims of sexual assault are protected. Ongoing criminal investigations may limit what appears on the blotter. These exemptions are narrow. The vast majority of police blotter data in Camden is fully public.
Camden Incident Report Copies
Beyond the blotter, you may need a full incident report. These reports contain more detail than a blotter entry. They include witness statements, officer narratives, and other investigative information. Not all of this is public. Criminal investigatory records retain their exemption under OPRA regardless of whether the case is open or closed.
To get an incident report in Camden, contact the Records Management Unit at 856-757-7049. Tell them the date, location, and nature of the incident. If you have a report number, provide it. The unit will let you know which parts of the report can be released. Standard copy fees apply. Electronic copies sent by email are often free.
Crash reports follow a different process. The Records Management Unit handles these as well, but there may be a short wait while the report is finalized. Officers typically complete crash reports within a few days of the accident.
Contacting Camden Police
For non-emergency questions about the police blotter or records, call the Records Management Unit at 856-757-7049. For OPRA requests, email OPRARequest@camdennj.gov. City Hall is at 520 Market Street, Room 105, Camden, NJ 08102.
If you need to report a crime or emergency, call 911. For non-emergency police matters, contact the Camden County Police Department's main line. The county took over policing for Camden in 2013. The Camden County Police Department now handles patrol, investigations, and community policing within city limits. Their records are subject to the same OPRA rules as any municipal department.
Camden County Police Blotter
Camden is part of Camden County. The county prosecutor and county police handle many cases that originate in the city. For a broader view of police blotter records across all Camden County municipalities, visit the county page.