Camden County was created in 1844 as part of the southern area of the State of New Jersey. Over 500,000 residents live in the county, making it the ninth-most populous county in the state. The city of Camden is its county seat.

Courts in Camden County

Camden County’s court system comprises a Surrogate Court, a Superior Court, and several Municipal Courts. The various divisions of the Superior Court hear different cases under their jurisdiction. The Superior Court's Civil Division handles civil actions where the amount in disputes is more than $20,000. The Special Civil Part of this division handles cases in which the damages are between $5,000 and $20,000. The Special Civil Part’s jurisdiction also extends to small claims cases that are up to $5,000. Lastly, the General Equity Division specializes in civil cases that involve other remedies beyond monetary compensation.

Criminal cases in Camden County that involve adult offenders or minors who commit serious crimes are under the jurisdiction of the county’s Criminal Division of the Superior Court. Camden County also has a Family Court that hears family law matters filed in the county. The court hears cases concerning divorce, domestic violence, juvenile delinquency, foster care placement, and child abuse/neglect. The Surrogate’s Court has limited jurisdiction over probate matters, including the administration of estates, wills, guardianship of minors and incapacitated people, adoptions, and trusts.

The Municipal Courts in Camden County handle traffic violations, city ordinance violations, and disorderly persons offenses. These courts also conduct the pre-trial proceedings of criminal cases. Additionally, they have limited juvenile jurisdiction over motor vehicle complaints and curfew violations involving minors.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Camden County

Public court records in Camden County are maintained by the Clerk of the court where the case was filed. For instance, the Clerk of the Superior Court keeps the records of all civil, criminal, and family law cases heard at the Superior Court. Interested individuals can find public court records in Camden County online or request them from the Clerk’s Office via mail or in person.

Types of Public Court Records in Camden County

Unless sealed by the court, the following types of court records in Camden County are available to the public:

• Criminal Court Records
• Civil Court Records
• Small Claims Court Records
• Probate Court Record
• Family Law Court Records
• Municipal Court Records

Confidential Court Records in Camden County

Confidential court records in Camden County refer to records that are sealed by the court to restrict them from public access. New Jersey laws may require such court records to be confidential due to the nature of the information they contain or for privacy concerns. Confidential court records are only accessible to individuals authorized by the court or parties involved. Confidential court records in Camden County include, but are not limited to:

• Domestic violence records
• Expunged records
• Grand jury proceeding records
• Juvenile records
• Medical records
• Police investigative reports
• Records that identify victims of sexual assault or abuse

Juvenile Delinquency in Camden, NJ

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Camden County, juvenile delinquency issues are on the rise. There are many reasons for the rise in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in New Jersey often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of crimes, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 358 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Camden County. Of that total, 43% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 155 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Camden County, are focusing on family therapy and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Camden County juvenile delinquency numbers will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Camden County, NJ

https://www.nj.gov/

County Seat:	Camden
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1844
Total Square Miles:	227
2019 Population:	510,719
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	520 Market St County Courthouse Camden , NJ 08102-1300 http://www.co.camden.nj.us