Sussex County 24 Hour Booking Lookup
Sussex County has not operated its own jail since fall 2019. All Sussex County inmates are now housed at the Morris County Correctional Facility through a shared services agreement. Booking records for Sussex County arrests are created and stored at the Morris County jail in Morris Township. The Sussex County Sheriff's Office in Newton still handles records requests and OPRA filings for county-level documents.
Sussex County 24 Hour Booking at Morris County Jail
Sussex County is the northernmost county in New Jersey. Its county seat is Newton. In the fall of 2019, the county closed its own jail and entered a shared services deal with Morris County. Under this plan, all Sussex County inmates go to the Morris County Correctional Facility at 43 John Street in Morris Township. The Morris County jail handles all intake and booking for both counties around the clock.
When someone is arrested in Sussex County, the arresting officers transport that person to the Morris County facility. The booking process takes place there. Staff verify the person's identity, take fingerprints, capture a booking photo, and log all charges. Medical staff perform a health screening. After these steps, the person is classified and assigned to a housing unit. The entire process creates a permanent record in the Morris County jail management system. Because of this arrangement, you must search Morris County records to find Sussex County booking data.
The Morris County Correctional Facility can be reached at (973) 631-5174 for questions about inmates booked on Sussex County charges. The jail runs intake at all hours, so arrests from Sussex County are processed as soon as the person arrives at the Morris Township facility.
| Sussex County Sheriff |
39 High Street Newton, NJ 07860 Phone: (973) 579-0850 |
|---|---|
| Inmate Facility |
Morris County Correctional Facility 43 John Street Morris Township, NJ 07960 Phone: (973) 631-5174 |
Note: Sussex County closed its own jail in 2019, so all current booking records are held at the Morris County Correctional Facility.
How to Search Sussex County 24 Hour Booking Records
Since Sussex County inmates are held at Morris County, you need to use Morris County resources to find current custody information. The VINE notification system is a free tool that lets you search for inmates across New Jersey jails, including the Morris County facility. Enter the person's name and select Morris County to check their status. VINE also lets you sign up for alerts when an inmate is released or transferred.
You can also call the Morris County Correctional Facility at (973) 631-5174 to ask about a specific person's custody status. Staff can confirm if someone arrested in Sussex County is currently held at the jail. For historical booking records or detailed arrest data, you will need to submit a formal records request to either Sussex County or Morris County, depending on which agency holds the specific document you need.
The Sussex County Sheriff's Office website provides information about county law enforcement and corrections.
The Sheriff's Office site covers services, contacts, and links for Sussex County records.
OPRA Requests for Sussex County 24 Hour Booking Data
The Open Public Records Act gives the public a right to access government documents in New Jersey. This includes booking records, arrest logs, and other law enforcement records. Under N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1, you can file an OPRA request with Sussex County for records held by county agencies. The Sussex County Sheriff's Office has its own OPRA page with details on how to submit a request.
The OPRA Custodian for the Sussex County Sheriff's Office is Undersheriff Matthew Avenatti. You can reach him by email at OPRA@sussexcountysheriff.com or by fax at (973) 579-7884. The mailing address is 39 High Street, Newton, NJ 07860. Include the person's full name, the date of arrest, and the type of records you need. Sussex County must respond within seven business days under state law.
Standard OPRA copy charges in Sussex County are $0.05 per letter-size page and $0.07 per legal-size page. Records that have been sealed through an expungement under N.J.S.A. 2C:52-1 will not be released. If your request involves booking records that are housed at Morris County, the Sussex County custodian may direct you to file a separate request with Morris County for those specific documents.
The Sussex County OPRA page outlines the process and fees for public records requests.
Use this page to find the right form and contact details for your OPRA submission.
Note: Sussex County may direct jail-specific OPRA requests to Morris County since that is where the booking records are now created and stored.
Court Records After a Sussex County 24 Hour Booking
After someone is booked on a Sussex County charge, their case proceeds through the court system. Indictable offenses go to the Sussex County Superior Court in Newton. Disorderly persons offenses are heard in the municipal court of the town where the arrest occurred. Both court levels create public records under Court Rule 1:38.
You can search Sussex County court cases through the NJ Courts case search tool. This free tool covers all Superior Court filings across New Jersey. Enter a name or case number to find filings, hearing dates, and outcomes for Sussex County cases. For a personal criminal history check, the NJSP records request portal lets you request your own record through the State Police.
Court records and booking records serve distinct purposes in Sussex County cases. Booking records document the arrest and intake at the Morris County facility. Court records track the charges filed by the prosecutor, any plea deals, trial results, and sentences. Together, they provide a complete view of a criminal case from the initial arrest through the final disposition. The Sussex County Clerk's Office at 83 Spring Street in Newton can be reached at (973) 579-0900 for additional county records.
Additional Sussex County 24 Hour Booking Resources
Several other tools can help you find information related to Sussex County arrests and booking records. The state OPRA portal lets you submit records requests to any government agency in New Jersey. This is useful when you are not sure which agency holds the records you need. The portal routes your request to the correct custodian.
The VINE system is also a valuable resource for tracking Sussex County inmates. Since all inmates go to the Morris County jail, VINE lets you monitor custody changes without calling the facility directly. You receive an alert by phone, email, or text when the person's status changes. This includes releases, transfers, and court dates.
Note: Sussex County is the northernmost county in New Jersey, and its rural location means that transport to the Morris County jail can take longer than in more urban areas of the state.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Sussex County in northern New Jersey. Each has its own booking process and records system. Check the county where the arrest took place for the most accurate results.
Cities in Sussex County
Newton is the county seat of Sussex County. It is home to the courthouse and the Sheriff's Office. Other towns in the county include Sparta, Vernon, Hopatcong, and Andover. All arrests across Sussex County result in transport to the Morris County Correctional Facility in Morris Township for 24 hour booking and intake processing. Local police handle the drive from the arrest scene to the jail.