New Jersey Open Public Records Act
The New Jersey Open Public Records Act became the state’s sunshine law in 2002, replacing, and significantly improving, a pre-existing right-to-know law. Public records includes any paper, written or printed book, document, drawing, map, plan, photograph, microfilm, data processed or image processed document, information stored or maintained electronically or by sound-recording or in a similar device, or any copy thereof, that has been made, maintained or kept on file.
Anyone but convicted criminals seeking information on victims may request public documents from the state. There is no requirement for a statement of purpose and no restrictions placed on the use of records. The New Jersey Open Public Records Act allows for up to seven days to respond to a records request.
