Clifton 24 Hour Booking Records
Clifton is a large city in Passaic County with a population over 85,000. The Clifton Police Department handles arrests within city limits. Passaic County does not have its own jail, so people arrested in Clifton are booked at facilities in Bergen County or Hudson County. You can search for Clifton arrest records through county inmate lookup tools, the state court system, and public records requests. Several online resources make it possible to check custody status from home.
Clifton Police Department and 24 Hour Booking
The Clifton Police Department is at 1111 Main Avenue. You can reach them at 973-470-5900. Officers patrol the city around the clock and respond to calls for service at all hours. When an arrest occurs, the booking process begins at the police station. Officers document the charges and collect basic information from the person in custody. Fingerprints and photos are taken as part of the standard intake steps.
After the initial processing at the Clifton station, the person is transported to a county facility for full booking. Passaic County closed its jail years ago through a shared services deal. Under this arrangement, Clifton arrests lead to booking at either the Bergen County Corrections and Rehabilitation Center in Hackensack or the Hudson County Correctional Facility in Kearny. Both of these jails run intake 24 hours a day, so Clifton booking records are created at any hour. The booking record includes the charges, bail amount, and court date set by the judge or bail schedule.
Clifton police also maintain their own records of arrests and incident reports. These are separate from the county jail records. Under N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1, arrest records held by the Clifton Police Department are public records. You can request them through an OPRA filing directed to the city.
| Police Department |
Clifton Police Department 1111 Main Avenue Clifton, NJ 07011 Phone: 973-470-5900 |
|---|---|
| County | Passaic County |
| Jail (Primary) | Bergen County Jail, 160 South River St, Hackensack |
| Jail (Secondary) | Hudson County Correctional, 30-35 Hackensack Ave, Kearny |
Note: Clifton does not have a city jail, so all inmates are held at Bergen County or Hudson County facilities after arrest.
How to Find Clifton 24 Hour Booking Records
Since Clifton inmates go to Bergen County or Hudson County jails, you need to search those systems for booking data. The Bergen County Sheriff's Office runs an online inmate lookup tool. You can access it at the Bergen County Inmate Lookup page. This tool lets you search by name and view booking details such as charges, bail, and housing status. It is free and does not need an account. Results update several times a day, so new Clifton bookings should appear within hours of intake at Bergen County.
For inmates placed at the Hudson County Correctional Facility, call the Records Bureau at 201-395-5680. Staff can confirm whether a person arrested in Clifton is held there. The main facility line at 201-395-5600 also connects to staff who can check custody status outside of regular hours.
Visit the Clifton city website for police contact details and local public safety resources.
Clifton Custody Status and 24 Hour Booking Alerts
The VINELink system tracks inmates held in jails across New Jersey. This includes people arrested in Clifton who are booked at Bergen County or Hudson County. You search by the person's name and select the facility. The system shows the current custody status. You can also sign up for alerts. VINE sends a notice by phone, email, or text when the person's status changes. This covers bookings, releases, transfers, and escapes.
VINE runs at all hours and is free to use. It is a good option when you want ongoing updates about someone arrested in Clifton rather than a one-time check. Many people use this tool to stay informed about a case without having to call the jail each day. The system is managed by Appriss Safety and covers every county jail in New Jersey.
Court records tied to Clifton arrests are also available online. The NJ Courts case search tool covers all Superior Court cases in Passaic County. You can look up a case by name or docket number. Results show the charges, court dates, and case status. This is helpful after the booking phase when the case moves into the court system.
Note: VINELink covers both Bergen and Hudson County jails, so you can track any Clifton inmate through one tool.
Request Clifton 24 Hour Booking Records Through OPRA
The Open Public Records Act gives you the right to request government documents in New Jersey. Booking records, arrest logs, and incident reports are all covered under OPRA. For records held by the Clifton Police Department, you submit a request to the city's records custodian. You can file through the state OPRA portal or send a written request to the Clifton Police Department at 1111 Main Avenue.
When you file your request, include the person's full name and the date of the arrest. Specify the type of record you need, such as an arrest report, booking sheet, or incident report. Clifton has seven business days to respond under the law. Copy fees follow the state schedule. Standard pages cost $0.05 each for letter size. Legal size pages cost $0.07 each. Records that have been sealed through an expungement under N.J.S.A. 2C:52-1 will not be released. Juvenile records are also off limits under N.J.S.A. 2A:4A-60.
For jail records specifically, you may need to send the OPRA request to Bergen County or Hudson County instead of Clifton. The jail booking sheet and intake documents are created at the host facility. The Clifton police report covers what happened during the arrest itself, while the jail records cover what happened during booking and custody. Both types of records are public under OPRA, but they are held by different agencies.
Statewide Records for Clifton Arrests
Beyond the local and county level, New Jersey maintains statewide databases that capture Clifton arrest data. The New Jersey State Police run a criminal records repository that collects data from all 21 counties. If someone was arrested in Clifton and also has records in other parts of the state, the NJSP database ties those records together under one file.
You can request your own criminal history through the NJSP personal record request portal. This pulls arrest and booking data from every county, not just Passaic. It is the most complete way to get a full record when someone has cases in more than one jurisdiction. Third-party requests require the person's written consent or a legal basis such as a court order.
The City of Clifton website has information about city services and departments.
The NJ Courts search tool covers all criminal cases tied to Clifton arrests heard in Passaic County Superior Court.
Passaic County Sheriff and Clifton Booking Data
The Passaic County Sheriff's Office oversees corrections and inmate management for the county. Even though there is no Passaic County jail, the Sheriff's Office still handles records requests and coordinates with the host facilities. You can reach the Records Division at 973-389-5920. Staff there can point you to the right resource for a Clifton booking search.
The Sheriff's Office is at 435 Hamburg Turnpike in Wayne. They process warrant checks, handle civil process, and manage court security for Passaic County. Their website links to the inmate search tools at Bergen County and Hudson County. If you are not sure where a person arrested in Clifton is being held, start with the Passaic County Sheriff's Office and they can help you narrow it down.
Clifton cases that go to trial are heard at the Passaic County Superior Court in Paterson. Lower-level offenses may be heard at the Clifton Municipal Court instead. Municipal court handles disorderly persons offenses and traffic matters. Records from both courts are available through the state court search tools.
Note: The Passaic County Sheriff's Office in Wayne coordinates all booking-related inquiries for Clifton and other county towns.
What Clifton 24 Hour Booking Records Include
A booking record from a Clifton arrest contains several key pieces of information. The record starts with the person's full name, date of birth, and physical description. It includes the charges filed by Clifton police. The bail amount appears along with any conditions of release set by the court. The booking number serves as a unique case identifier in the jail system.
Other details in the record include:
- Date and time of booking
- Arresting agency and officer
- Fingerprint and photograph data
- Housing assignment at the jail
- Scheduled court dates
These records are created during the intake process at Bergen County or Hudson County. Under N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1, most of this information is public. Some parts may be withheld if they relate to an ongoing investigation or fall under a legal exception. Medical records collected during intake are not public. Mental health screenings and risk assessments are also kept confidential. The public portion of the booking record is what you receive when you file an OPRA request or use an online inmate search tool for a Clifton arrest.
Passaic County 24 Hour Booking Records
Clifton is in Passaic County, and all bookings from Clifton arrests are processed through the county's shared services arrangement with Bergen and Hudson Counties. For more details about the booking process, inmate lookup tools, and OPRA filing options, visit the full Passaic County page.