Eatontown Police Department, Eatontown NJ

DATE: July 8, 2002
TO: Members of the Public
FROM: Custodian of Records, Borough of Eatontown
RE: Public Access To Government Records

Members of the public are hereby advised that the provisions of the New Jersey Public Records Act, N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1, et seq., allow for public access to government records with several exceptions listed below.

Members of the public who are requesting copies of police records must complete the Request for Public Records form which is available in the Records Bureau and on the Eatontown Police Department internet website. The form must be sent to one of the custodians of records in the Eatontown Police Department, 47 Broad Street, Eatontown, NJ, 07724, who are:

Special Officer James Rolly - Records Officer
Ms. Joan Arnone - Records Clerk

The statute provides for a right to appeal any denial or failure to provide access to a government record as follows:

A person who is denied access to a government record by the custodian of the record, at the option of the requestor, may:

Institute a proceeding to challenge the custodian's decision by filing an action in Superior court which shall be heard in the vicinage where it is filed by a Superior Court Judge who has been designated to hear such cases because the judge's knowledge and expertise in matters relating to access to government records; or

in lieu of filing action in Superior Court, file a complaint with the Government Records Council established pursuant to section 8 of P.L.2001, c.404 (C.47:1A-7).

The right to institute any proceeding under this section shall be solely that of the requestor. Any such proceeding shall proceed in a summary or expedited manner. The public agency shall have the burden of proving that the denial of access is authorized by law. If it is determined that access has been improperly denied, the court or agency head shall order that access be allowed. A requestor who prevails in any proceeding shall be entitled to a reasonable attorney's fee.

EXCEPTIONS TO PUBLIC ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT RECORDS
Privileged or Protected Category

Autopsy Reports
Child abuse or sex assault victim name or address
Court records sealed
Computer security information
Criminal investigatory records
Credit Card Numbers
Grand Jury testimony, information
Grievance information with public employer
Domestic Violence data
Drivers' license numbers
DYFS information
Electronic Surveillance Materials
Emergency or security information or procedures
Employee sexual harassment complaints
Fingerprint cards
Inter-agency or intra-agency advisory communications
Juvenile records
Labor Negotiation information, strategy or position
Medical Examiner Photographs
Otherwise inappropriate material
Pension and personnel records
Photographs
Pre sentence investigations
Public Agency insurance communications
Safety of persons or public
Security measures and surveillance techniques
Social Security Numbers
Unlisted telephone numbers
Victim locations (Domestic Violence)
Victim records
Record has been destroyed/not retained pursuant to

N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1, et seq.
N.J.S.A. 2A:82-46b
Executive Order 69
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1, et seq.
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1, et seq.
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1, et seq.
Court Rule 3:6-7
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1, et seq.
N.J.S.A. 2C:25-33
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1, et seq.
N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.10
N.J.S.A. 2A:156A-19
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1, et seq.
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1, et seq.
Executive Order 69
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1, et seq.
N.J.S.A. 2A:4A-60
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1, et seq.
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1, et seq.
Executive Order 69
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1, et seq.
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1, et seq. Exec. Order 69
State vs. DeGeorge, 113 NJ Supra.542
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1, et seq.
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1, et seq.; Exec. Order 69
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1, et seq.
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1, et seq.
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1, et seq.
N.J.S.A. 2C:25-26c.
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1, et seq.
Records Retention and Disposition Schedule
NJ Dept. of State, Div. of Archives Mgmt