Hudson County is the smallest county by size in the State of New Jersey. It is also the most densely populated county, with 724,854 residents within its 46.2 square miles of land area. Its county seat is Jersey City.
Courts in Hudson County
The Hudson County Superior Court has divisions that hear different cases under their jurisdictions. The Civil Division hears civil disputes involving monetary compensation that exceeds $20,000. Proceedings in which the damages are between $5,000 and $20,000 are brought before the Special Civil Part of the Civil Division. Small claims cases involving monetary compensation of $5,000 or less are also heard in the Special Civil Part. However, the General Equity Division of the Superior Court handles civil cases that do not involve monetary compensation.
The Criminal Division of the Superior Court handles criminal cases involving adult offenders and sometimes minors who commit serious crimes.
The Family Court of the Superior Court deals with matters related to family law. This includes cases involving divorce, child custody and support, domestic violence, juvenile delinquency, parenting time, foster care placement, guardianship, abuse and neglect, termination of parental rights, and adoption.
In Hudson County, the Surrogate’s Court has limited jurisdiction over probate matters, including the administration of estates, wills, guardianships, and trusts.
The municipalities in Hudson County have their own Municipal Courts. These courts handle motor vehicle and traffic violations, ordinance violations, and disorderly persons offenses. They also handle pre-trial proceedings in criminal cases.
Where to Find Public Court Records in Hudson County
The various Clerk of Court offices maintain public court records in Hudson County, each responsible for the records of their respective courts. For instance, the Superior Court Clerk's office maintains records for the Superior Court, including criminal, civil, and family court cases.
These records are accessible online or by any other means that the Clerk provides. Usually, interested persons can visit the Clerk’s office and request copies of the records needed or send the request by mail.
Types of Public Court Records in Hudson County
Members of the public can access the following types of court records in Hudson County:
- Criminal Court Records
- Civil Court Records
- Probate Court Record
- Family Court Records
- Municipal Court Records
Confidential Court Records in Hudson County
Although most court records are open for inspection, some confidential court records in Hudson are exempt from public disclosure. These records are confidential to comply with New Jersey laws or keep sensitive information private. However, confidential court records in the county are available to the parties involved in the case or persons authorized by court orders.
- Records relating to grand jury proceedings
- Expunged records
- Records relating to the victims of sexual assault or abuse
- Juvenile delinquency records
- Domestic violence records
- Police investigative reports
- Medical and psychological records
Juvenile Delinquency in Hudson, NJ
Unfortunately, in many areas of the Hudson County, juvenile delinquency crimes are on the rise. There are many reasons for the increase in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in New Jersey often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of offenses, and other family matters.
In 2017, a total of 1239 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Hudson County. Of that total, 100% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 1238 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.
A lot of counties, including, Hudson County, are focusing on family health and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Hudson County juvenile delinquency statistics will show whether or not this approach is working.
| Juvenile Cases | Number of cases |
|---|---|
| Delinquency | 6,200 |
| Dependency | 0 |
| Status | 1,749 |
Government of Hudson County, NJ
| County Seat: | Jersey City |
| Government Type: | County |
| Authority: | Home Rule |
| Year Organized: | 1840 |
| Total Square Miles: | 62 |
| 2019 Population: | 691,643 |
| Persons/Square Mile: | 0.00 |