Police Department OPRA Requests

This webpage provides information for OPRA requests pertaining to records held by the East Brunswick Police Department. Please visit www.eastbrunswick.org to locate the appropriate custodian of records and OPRA request form for all other Township of East Brunswick records.

In order to make requesting public records as simple as possible, it is important that you know what record you need and where that specific record is maintained or located, and the request form is properly submitted.

General OPRA Information

  1. State Law requires that in order to request access to government records, you must complete, sign and date a written request for access and deliver it in person or by mail during regular business hours to the appropriate custodian of the record requested. You may also complete and submit an OPRA request form by emailing it to OPRA@ebpd.net. The East Brunswick Police Department WILL NOT accept the submission of a written request for access by fax. Your request is not considered filed until the written request has been received by the appropriate custodian of the record requested. If you submit a written request to any other officer or employee of the East Brunswick Police Department, that officer or employee does not have the authority to accept your request on behalf of the East Brunswick Police Department and you will be directed to the appropriate custodian.
  2. The Open Public Records Act and its deadlines, restrictions, and remedies will not apply to your request if you submit a request for access to government records to someone other than the appropriate custodian, do not complete a written request containing the information required in this form, or make a request for access by telephone or fax.
  3. The fees for duplication of a government record in printed form are listed on the front of the request form. We will notify you of any special charges, special service charges, or other additional charges authorized by State law or regulation before processing your request. Payment shall be made by cash, check, or money order payable to the Township of East Brunswick.
  4. Requests with estimated fees exceeding $25 may require a 50% deposit. Anonymous requests, when permitted, require a deposit of 100% of estimated fees. You agree to pay the balance due upon delivery of the records.
  5. By State Law, a custodian must deny access to a person who is convicted of an indictable offense in New Jersey, any other state, or the United States, who is seeking government records containing personal information pertaining to the person’s victim or the victim’s family.
  6. By law, the East Brunswick Police Department must notify you that it grants or denies a request for access to government records within 7 business days after the custodian of the record requested receives the request, provided that the record is currently available and not in storage or archived. If the record requested is not currently available or is in storage or archived, the custodian will advise you within 7 business days when the record can be made available and the estimated cost. You may agree with the custodian to extend the time for granting or denying your request or making records available.
  7. Business hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. The term “business days” to mean those days on which a “public agency” is open for “regular business hours.” N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5(a). This term does not include weekends, holidays, and regular or emergency closures.
  8. You may be denied access to a government record if your request would substantially disrupt agency operations and the custodian is unable to reach a reasonable solution with you.
  9. If the East Brunswick Police Department is unable to comply with your request for access to a government record, the custodian will indicate the reasons for denial in writing and send you a signed and dated copy.
  10. Except as otherwise provided by law or by agreement with the requestor, if the custodian of the record requested fails to respond to you within 7 business days of receiving a written, signed request for access, the failure to respond will be considered a denial of your request.
  11. If your request for access to a government record has been denied or unfilled within the time permitted by law, you have a right to challenge the decision by the East Brunswick Police Department to deny access. At your option, you may either file a complaint in writing with the Government Records Council (GRC) located in the Department of Community Affairs or institute a proceeding in the Superior Court of New Jersey. You may contact the GRC at 866-850-0511 (toll-free) or 609-292-6830 or online at www.nj.gov/grc.
  12. Information provided on requests may be subject to disclosure under the Open Public Records Act.