Domestic violence is a serious issue that affects families across New Jersey and the entire United States. In an effort to better track domestic violence offenses and protect victims, the state of New Jersey established the Domestic Violence Central Registry in 1994. This registry serves as a centralized database that documents domestic violence restraining orders issued throughout the state.
What is the Domestic Violence Central Registry?
The Domestic Violence Central Registry New Jersey is a confidential database maintained by the New Jersey State Police. It contains information on all domestic violence restraining orders issued by the courts in New Jersey. This includes temporary restraining orders as well as final restraining orders granted after a court hearing.
The purpose of the registry is two-fold. First, it allows law enforcement to quickly determine if a domestic violence restraining order exists involving certain individuals. This is crucial when responding to potential domestic violence situations. Secondly, it provides a statewide tracking mechanism to identify individuals who may have multiple restraining orders filed against them across different municipalities.
What Information is Contained in the Registry?
For each domestic violence restraining order, the following information is entered into the registry:
- The name and date of birth of the plaintiff (victim)
- The name and date of birth of the defendant (alleged offender)
- The date the restraining order was issued
- The county and court that issued the order
- An indicator if the order is temporary or final
- Any other names (aliases) used by the plaintiff or defendant
- Information on any minors covered by the restraining order
This data allows law enforcement and the courts to efficiently verify restraining orders and identify patterns of domestic violence offenses across the state.
Accessing the Registry
Access to the actual Domestic Violence Registry New Jersey database is restricted to authorized law enforcement personnel and court officials only. However, there are procedures in place for domestic violence victims to check if a restraining order is currently active.
First, an individual can contact their county courts and provide their name and the name of the restrained person. The court is then able to query the central registry. If there is an active restraining order, the court can provide details such as the type of order, date issued, and which county it was issued in.
Second, the victim can contact the police department where the restraining order was issued originally. That law enforcement agency also has the ability to verify the restraining order's status through the statewide database.
It's important to note that for confidentiality reasons, the central registry cannot be searched by the general public directly. The process must go through official court or law enforcement channels.
Proper Enforcement is Critical
While the Domestic Violence Central Registry is a vital tool, it is only as effective as the enforcement of restraining orders. All law enforcement agencies in New Jersey must take domestic violence situations seriously and cross-reference the central database when responding to any potential incidents or violations.
Too often in the past, restraining orders may have been disregarded or their existence unknown to responding officers. The centralized registry aims to overcome that by providing a single source of truth that all police departments can access.
If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic violence in New Jersey, contact the statewide domestic violence hotline at 1-800-572-SAFE for help. Remember, no one deserves to suffer abuse, and there are resources available to protect you.
