New Jersey Open Public Records Act (OPRA)
How to Request Internal Affairs Records in New Jersey
You can ask a New Jersey police department for records of closed internal affairs and professional standards investigations under the New Jersey Open Public Records Act (OPRA) (N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 and following). Response timeline: The custodian must respond as soon as possible and no later than 7 business days (N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5(i)). Under the 2024 amendments, commercial requests and records needing Daniel's Law redactions can take up to 14 business days, extensions are capped at 21 business days from notice, and you have 45 days to challenge a denial.. Be as specific as you can about the date, place, and people involved, and ask for electronic copies.
Last reviewed October 7, 2026. Statute: N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 and following.
Write your New Jersey request
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Frequently asked questions
- Can I get internal affairs records from a New Jersey police department?
- You can request records of closed internal affairs and professional standards investigations under the New Jersey Open Public Records Act (OPRA) (N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 and following). Some records may be withheld or redacted under exemptions in the law, for example for open investigations or privacy.
- What should I include in a request for internal affairs records?
- Name the department, describe the records as precisely as you can (date, time, location, officer name or badge number, case number), ask for electronic copies, and ask for a fee estimate first.
- How long will it take?
- The response timeline under the New Jersey Open Public Records Act (OPRA) (N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 and following) is: The custodian must respond as soon as possible and no later than 7 business days (N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5(i)). Under the 2024 amendments, commercial requests and records needing Daniel's Law redactions can take up to 14 business days, extensions are capped at 21 business days from notice, and you have 45 days to challenge a denial.. Large video requests can take longer if the agency needs to review or redact footage.