Open Public Records Act
Access to Atlantic County Public Records and the Open Public Records Act (OPRA)
The Open Public Records Act became effective on July 7, 2002. It
amended the prior Right to Know Law. Under the Open Public Records
Act (OPRA), members of the public may have access to public records
held by Atlantic County.
INFORMATION ON OPRA
The underlying purpose of OPRA is to provide that government
records, with certain exceptions, be available for public inspection
and copying. Not all records are disclosable under OPRA. Exceptions
to public accessibility are based on such principles as: a
reasonable expectation of privacy by citizens regarding records in
the possession of a public agency; public safety concerns; and the
need to foster unrestrained discussion and consideration of issues
inside public agencies.
The State of New Jersey
established the Government Records Council to assist in
disseminating information about OPRA. For more information on your
right to obtain records under OPRA go to their web site at http://www.nj.gov/grc . You may
also contact them by phone at their toll free information line:
866-850-0511. Their mailing address is:
Government Records Council
P. O. Box 819, Trenton, NJ 08625-0819
INFORMAL REQUESTS FOR COUNTY RECORDS
Routine requests for documents may still be made informally,
directly to the holder of the record you are seeking. However,
informal requests are not governed by OPRA. If the holder of the
record you are seeking believes that a formal request would be more
appropriate, they may request that you file an Atlantic County
Sheriff's Office Request for Government Records Form with the Custodian of Records
for the Atlantic County Sheriffs Office.
REQUESTS UNDER OPRA FOR COUNTY RECORDS
You may also direct your initial request to the Custodian of Records
by using the Atlantic County Sheriff's Office Request for Government Records form available for download in the black box titled OPRA Form. In order for the request to be covered by the Open Public Records Act,
the Atlantic County Sheriff's Office Request for Government Records Form must be
submitted to the Custodian in person, by mail, or by FAX at
609-909-7292. The form is also available from the Custodian at:
Atlantic County Sheriff's Office
OPRA Custodian
4997 Unami Blvd
Mays Landing, NJ 08330
phone: 609-909-7234
FAX: 609-909-7292
Email:
amici_tracy@aclink.org
Please be specific when requesting documents. If you know which
County office has the records you want, please include that
information. Also, indicate a date or time frame for the documents
you want. Provide any information that would assist the Custodian in
determining what specific documents you are seeking.
OTHER COUNTY AGENCIES
Some county agencies have their own Custodian of Records. They are:
The County Law Department, the County Prosecutor, the County Clerk, the
Board of Elections, the Superintendent of Elections, the
Superintendent of Schools, the Board of Taxation, Atlantic Cape
Community College, the Atlantic County Improvement Authority and the
Atlantic County Utilities Authority. The County Surrogate is subject
to the Court rules on disclosure. Contact these entities directly
for their records.
