August 20,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Police Arrest three adults and one juvenile on Orchard School property . Reader asks ,”I know that they are adults, but you did not need to publish their names?”
If the news agency asked the police for this information the the police must provide it. So you may not like it but it is the law and the news agency know it.
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-3(b) provides that the following information (not records) concerning a criminal investigation shall be available to the public within 24 hours or as soon as practicable, of a request for such information:
1. where a crime has been reported but no arrest yet made, information as to the type of crime, time, location and type of weapon, if any;
2. if an arrest has been made, information as to the name, address and age of any victims. Exceptions to this are:
(a) when there has not been sufficient opportunity for notification of next of kin of any victims of injury and/or death to any such victim; or
(b) where the release of the names of any victim would be contrary to existing law or court rule.
In deciding on the release of information as to the identity of a victim, the safety of the victim and the victim’s family, and the integrity of any ongoing investigation, shall be considered;
3. if an arrest has been made, information as to the defendant’s name, age, residence, occupation, marital status and similar background information and, the identity of the complaining party unless the release of such information is contrary to existing law or court rule;
