Burlington County Bench Warrants

Burlington County bench warrants are issued by judges in the Superior Court at Mount Holly. The county is one of the largest in New Jersey by land area and has a growing population. When a person fails to appear for a court date in Burlington County, a judge may issue a bench warrant. You can search for bench warrants through the court system or the Sheriff's Office. The county courts facility sits at 49-50 Rancocas Road in Mount Holly. This page covers how bench warrants work in Burlington County and where to look for them.

What Are Bench Warrants in Burlington County

A bench warrant is a court order. It tells law enforcement to arrest a specific person. Judges in Burlington County issue bench warrants from the bench, which is how they get their name. The most common reason is a failure to appear in court. If you miss a court date in Burlington County, the judge can sign a bench warrant that same day. This warrant stays active until you are found or you turn yourself in.

Burlington County bench warrants differ from arrest warrants in one key way. Police ask for arrest warrants when they have probable cause to believe a crime took place. Bench warrants come from the judge directly. They arise when someone does not follow a court order. Missing a hearing is the top cause. Not paying a fine can lead to one too. Failing to complete a court-ordered program is another reason. Under New Jersey Court Rule 7:8-9, a judge may issue a bench warrant when a defendant does not show up for any required court appearance in Burlington County.

Note: A bench warrant in Burlington County does not expire on its own and will remain active until resolved by the court.

Burlington County Sheriff and Warrant Searches

The Burlington County Sheriff's Office plays a key role in bench warrants. Officers serve warrants and make arrests. They also keep records of warrants they have processed. You can call the Sheriff's Office at (609) 265-5127 to ask about arrest records or warrant status. The office handles civil process work as well through its Civil Process Unit.

The Burlington County Sheriff's Office can provide information about warrant searches to members of the public. You can visit the office to find bench warrant details linked to a specific person in Burlington County. The Sheriff's Office works with local police departments across the county to carry out bench warrants. When a bench warrant is issued by a Burlington County judge, the Sheriff's Office enters it into the system so that any law enforcement officer in New Jersey can see it during a routine stop or contact.

The Burlington County Sheriff's Office website has a directory of services that can help you find the right department for your request.

This directory page lists all of the units within the Sheriff's Office and their contact details for Burlington County residents.

Burlington County Court Process for Warrants

When someone is arrested on a bench warrant in Burlington County, the court process moves fast. All defendants must appear before a judge within 24 hours of arrest. This first appearance is where the judge decides what happens next. The judge looks at the charges and the reason the bench warrant was issued in Burlington County.

New Jersey changed its bail system in 2017. Burlington County now uses a pretrial risk assessment instead of cash bail for most cases. Under N.J.S.A. 2A:162-25(c), the court prepares a risk assessment within 24 to 48 hours. This report helps the judge decide if the person can be released while the case moves forward. A person picked up on a bench warrant in Burlington County will go through this same process. The judge may release the person, set conditions, or hold them depending on the risk level.

The Burlington County courts facility at 49-50 Rancocas Road in Mount Holly handles all bench warrant matters. You can search for warrant records through the Burlington County website.

This page shows the online search tool for looking up warrants issued in Burlington County.

Note: The pretrial risk assessment is not a public document and is only used by the court to make release decisions in Burlington County.

How to Search Burlington County Bench Warrants

There are several ways to search for bench warrants in Burlington County. Each method gives you different levels of detail. Some are free. Others cost money. The best choice depends on what you need and how fast you need it.

The Superior Court Criminal Division in Burlington County handles all bench warrant records. You can call the Court Clerk at (609) 288-9500 to ask about outstanding warrants and judicial records. Staff can tell you if a bench warrant exists for a given name. You can also visit the court in person at 49 Rancocas Road in Mount Holly. Bring a valid ID with you. The clerk can search the system and give you basic case details for Burlington County bench warrants.

Online options also exist. The New Jersey Courts public access portal lets you search criminal case records by name or case number. This covers all counties including Burlington County. The Burlington County warrant search page provides another way to look up active warrants. You can also check the NJ Courts electronic access page for more search tools.

• Call the Court Clerk at (609) 288-9500
• Visit the courthouse at 49 Rancocas Road, Mount Holly
• Search online through the NJ Courts portal
• Contact the Sheriff's Office at (609) 265-5127
• File an OPRA request with the county

Sealed Warrants and Burlington County Records

Not all bench warrants in Burlington County are public. Some are sealed. A sealed warrant means the court has decided to keep it hidden from public view. Law enforcement can still see it. But the general public cannot access the details. This is done to protect ongoing investigations or to avoid tipping off the person named in the warrant.

Under N.J.S.A. 2A:84A-21.4, courts in New Jersey can seal warrants when there is good cause. Burlington County judges use this power when public access could interfere with law enforcement efforts. Once the warrant is executed, the seal may be lifted. At that point, the record becomes available through normal channels in Burlington County. Active warrants are often kept from public view because releasing them could alert the person and allow them to flee or hide.

Note: If you believe a sealed bench warrant exists in Burlington County, consult with an attorney who can access court records not available to the public.

Burlington County Criminal History Checks

A criminal history check is different from a bench warrant search. It covers a wider range of records. A bench warrant search looks for active court orders. A criminal history check shows past arrests, charges, and outcomes. Both types of searches can reveal bench warrant activity in Burlington County.

To get a full criminal history check in Burlington County, you need to submit fingerprints through an approved vendor. The New Jersey State Police process these checks. You fill out a State Police form and pay a fee between $20 and $45. The results come back from the State Police and show any criminal records tied to those fingerprints in New Jersey. This includes any bench warrants that were issued and later resolved in Burlington County or anywhere else in the state.

The Burlington County criminal records page also has helpful details about the process and related services.

This page from the Burlington County records site gives an overview of criminal records access in the county.

Burlington County Prosecutor and Bench Warrants

The Burlington County Prosecutor's Office is at 49 Rancocas Road in Mount Holly. The phone number is (609) 265-5035. The prosecutor handles criminal cases in the county. When a bench warrant is issued, the prosecutor's office tracks it as part of the case file. They work with the court and the Sheriff's Office to make sure bench warrants are carried out in Burlington County.

The prosecutor can also ask a judge to issue a bench warrant. If a defendant skips a hearing, the prosecutor may request the warrant right away. The judge then signs it. This happens often in Burlington County when defendants fail to appear for scheduled court dates. The prosecutor's office keeps records of all bench warrants tied to their cases.

Pretrial Intervention in Burlington County

Burlington County offers a Pretrial Intervention Program, known as PTI. This program is for first-time offenders. It gives them a chance to avoid a criminal record if they complete the program. PTI is relevant to bench warrants because failing to meet PTI requirements can lead to a bench warrant in Burlington County.

If a person in PTI misses a meeting, fails a drug test, or does not complete required tasks, the court may revoke them from the program. The judge can then issue a bench warrant to bring that person back to court. Once removed from PTI, the original charges come back. The case moves forward as if PTI never happened. Burlington County courts take PTI violations seriously. A bench warrant issued for a PTI violation is handled the same way as any other bench warrant in Burlington County.

Note: PTI participants in Burlington County should keep their probation officer informed of any address or phone number changes to avoid missed contacts that could lead to a bench warrant.

New Jersey Policy on Low-Level Bench Warrants

In 2022, the New Jersey Attorney General issued a directive about bench warrants for low-level offenses. This policy affects Burlington County and every other county in the state. The directive recognized that thousands of bench warrants exist for minor offenses across New Jersey. Many people with these warrants avoid contact with law enforcement out of fear. The policy aims to reduce the negative effects of these outstanding bench warrants.

Under this directive, law enforcement in Burlington County is encouraged to use discretion when dealing with bench warrants for minor matters. The goal is to get people back into the court system rather than simply jailing them. This does not mean bench warrants go away. They are still valid court orders. But the approach to handling them has shifted in Burlington County and across the state. People with bench warrants for low-level offenses may have options to resolve them without going to jail first.

Burlington County Jail and Warrant Holds

The Burlington County Jail holds people who are arrested on bench warrants. When someone is picked up on a bench warrant, they go to the jail until they see a judge. The jail is in Mount Holly. You can call the jail at (609) 265-5979, (609) 265-5993, or (609) 265-5970 for information about a person in custody.

A person held on a bench warrant in Burlington County will see a judge within 24 hours. The judge will decide whether to release the person or hold them. If the original charge is minor, the person may be released quickly. If the charge is serious or the person has a history of missing court, the judge may set strict conditions or hold the person until trial. The Burlington County jail staff can tell you if a person is currently in custody on a bench warrant.

Records Requests in Burlington County

You can file a public records request for bench warrant information in Burlington County. New Jersey's Open Public Records Act, known as OPRA, gives the public the right to access government records. This includes some court and law enforcement records. You can submit an OPRA request to the Burlington County Clerk's Office at 50 Rancocas Road in Mount Holly or by phone at 609-265-5122.

The Government Records Council oversees OPRA compliance across New Jersey. If your request is denied, you can file a complaint with this council. Keep in mind that active bench warrants may be exempt from OPRA disclosure in Burlington County. Law enforcement records related to ongoing investigations are often protected. But once a case is closed, more records become available to the public.

Note: OPRA requests in Burlington County must be submitted on the official form and typically receive a response within seven business days.

Cities in Burlington County

Burlington County has over 40 municipalities spread across its large land area. All bench warrants for these communities are handled by the Burlington County Superior Court in Mount Holly. Local police departments across the county can also arrest people on active bench warrants.

Other municipalities in Burlington County include Mount Laurel, Evesham Township, Willingboro, Moorestown, Cinnaminson, Maple Shade, Burlington Township, Medford, and Pemberton Township. All bench warrant cases from these areas go through the Burlington County court system.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Burlington County. A bench warrant issued in one county is valid across all of New Jersey. If you have an active bench warrant from Burlington County, you can be arrested in any of these nearby counties or anywhere in the state.