Camden City Public Records

Camden was incorporated in 1828 and sits along the Delaware River in Camden County. The city has a long history, and its government records stretch back many years. Public records in Camden cover a broad range of documents held by the city clerk, the police, and the courts. Residents and the public can search these records through OPRA requests and various online portals. Camden has taken steps to digitize many of its older records, which makes searching faster and more convenient for everyone.

Camden City Clerk Office

The city clerk in Camden is Luis Pastoriza. The deputy clerk is Patrice Bassett. Their office is at 520 Market St, Room 105, Camden, NJ 08102. You can call at 856-757-7049. This office is the main point of contact for public records in Camden.

The clerk's office handles vital records, meeting minutes, ordinances, and other city documents. They also process OPRA requests. If you want to visit, go to the first floor of City Hall. The staff there can help you figure out what records exist and how to get them.

The Camden city clerk department page explains the services offered and how to reach the office.

From this page you can find hours, forms, and contact details for the clerk staff.

OPRA Requests in Camden

Camden accepts OPRA requests by email at OPRARequest@camdennj.gov. You can also submit a form in person or by mail. The city must respond within seven business days. If they need more time, they will send you a notice with a new date.

Be clear about what you want. Use names, dates, and document types. The more detail you provide, the better. Vague requests slow things down. If you are not sure what to ask for, call the clerk's office first. They can tell you what records are on file.

The city also has a Records Management Unit. This team handles retention, destruction, and digital archiving. They make sure records are stored the right way and kept for the correct amount of time. Camden uses the CORA Connect portal for scanned records. This system lets staff pull up old documents that have been digitized.

Camden's OPRA page walks you through the steps for filing a public records request with the city.

The page includes the OPRA form and instructions on what information to include in your request.

Note: The Government Records Council can help if your request is denied or if you feel the city did not follow the law.

Camden Police Records

Camden's police force changed in 2013. The city police department was dissolved. In its place, the Camden County Police Department took over. This county-wide force now patrols Camden and handles all law enforcement records for the city. You can reach them at 856-757-7400.

Police records include incident reports, crash data, arrest logs, and call records. To get copies, file an OPRA request with the county police. They have their own process. Response times follow the same state rules as other public bodies.

The Camden County Police Department website has details on how to request records from the department.

Check the site for forms, contact numbers, and office hours for the records unit.

Municipal Court Public Records

The Camden Municipal Court handles local cases. Traffic tickets, code violations, and minor offenses go through this court. The director is Ursula R. Piercy. You can email the court at CamdenCity.MC@njcourts.gov.

Court sessions run Monday through Friday. Morning sessions start at 8:30, 9:00, or 9:30 AM. Afternoon sessions begin at 12:30, 1:00, or 1:30 PM. The schedule can change, so call ahead to confirm.

Court records are public unless sealed by a judge. You can ask the court clerk for copies of case files, judgments, and hearing records. For cases above the municipal level, the NJ Courts portal has search tools for the entire state.

Note: Court records from sealed or expunged cases will not appear in public searches.

Camden Property Records

Property records for Camden are held by the Camden County Clerk. Deeds, mortgages, liens, and lis pendens are all on file. The county has an online search tool that covers many years of transactions. You can search by name or by property address.

The city tax assessor also keeps records. These show the assessed value of each property, the tax rate, and any exemptions. If you are researching a piece of land or a building in Camden, start with the county clerk for deed history. Then check the tax assessor for current value and tax data.

Digital Archiving in Camden

Camden has invested in digital records. The CORA Connect portal stores scanned copies of older documents. This means you can sometimes get records faster because staff do not have to dig through paper files. The Records Management Unit oversees this process.

Digital archiving helps in several ways. It protects old documents from damage. It makes searches quicker. It also frees up physical space in city offices. Camden continues to add more records to the digital system each year.

Not every record has been scanned yet. Some older files are still on paper. If the record you need is not in the digital system, the staff will search the physical archive. This can take more time.

Where to Find Camden Records

Camden keeps public records in several places. Here is a quick guide:

• City Clerk: 520 Market St, Room 105, Camden, NJ 08102
• OPRA email: OPRARequest@camdennj.gov
• Police: Camden County PD, 856-757-7400
• Municipal Court: CamdenCity.MC@njcourts.gov
• Property: Camden County Clerk

Each office has its own hours and contact info. Plan your visit or request in advance. Bring ID if you go in person.

Camden County Records Overview

Camden is the county seat of Camden County. Many county-level records are stored right in the city. The county clerk, the superior court, and the sheriff all have offices here. For more information on county records across New Jersey, visit our Counties page.