Mercer County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Mercer County is located in central New Jersey, midway between Philadelphia and New York. Its county seat, Trenton, also serves as the state's capital. Due to the growth of industrialization, Mercer County experienced an increase in its population and had approximately 380,000 residents in 2022. The judicial bodies responsible for protecting fundamental rights, resolving disputes, and ensuring justice are the Mercer County Superior Court and municipal courts. The Superior Court is made up of several divisions, including the civil, criminal, family, probation, and municipal divisions.

The Mercer County Superior Court is located in Trenton. The Civil Division of the Superior Court has two divisions. Its Special Civil Part handles cases in which the amount in controversy is between $5,000 and $20,000, while its General Equity Part handles foreclosure, trade secrets, and labor matters. The Criminal Division hears all indictable criminal offenses and severe juvenile cases. Cases arising from family relationships are the responsibility of the Family Division. Examples of such cases include foster care placement, family crisis, juvenile delinquency, termination of parental rights, adoption, and legal guardianship. The Probation Division promotes the safety of the community by supervising offenders, monitoring behaviors, and enforcing court orders. Additionally, Mercer County comprises 12 municipalities, each of which is equipped with its own municipal court. Municipal Courts have limited jurisdiction and can handle matters including traffic, fish, game, and vehicle violations.

Over the years, Mercer County has experienced fluctuation in its crime rate, with places like Hamilton and Trenton recording the highest numbers of offenses. As of the first quarter of 2021, Mercer County had an index crime rate of 333.8 incidents per 100,000 people. This is a significant improvement compared to the crime rate of 1878.9 incidents per 100,000 people in 2019 and 1,745 incidents per 100,000 people in 2020. Furthermore, the superior court administers approximately 40,000 cases each court year, highlighting the active nature of the court system. The court records of cases filed within the county are in the custody of the Superior Court Clerk, who can also provide access to them upon request. While the public has the right to view court records, certain records, such as those related to the pretrial service program, domestic violence, child abuse, medical care, and drug dependency, are exempted due to the confidential information they contain. Additionally, court records are remotely accessible by registering or logging on to the Electronic Access Program (EAP).

The Mercer County Superior Court, serving as the judicial arm of the county government, is tasked with ensuring compliance with the law. It administers justice through its civil, family, probation, criminal, and municipal divisions. Also, it promotes public confidence in the court system by providing electronic and in-person access to court documents.