Morris County New Jersey Court Records (New York Metro)

Found just 30 miles away from the core of New York City, Morris County in New Jersey is one of the constituent parts of the New York metropolitan area. It has a large population of 509,000 people. Nearby counties include Essex, Hunterdon, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren. Major employers in Morris County include Novartis, UPS, and AT&T.

One of the earliest counties to be settled, Morris was, for many years, a rural zone. However, with the growth of New York City, it transformed into a commuter community with dozens of towns. Today, cheaper real estate and available space have led many Fortune 500 companies to set up major headquarters in the area, facilitating a flow of workers from and to New York City. Because of these economic conditions, the area has an active and evolving labor force. As a result, Morris County businesses are more likely to encounter applicants who reside in other counties within the metro area.

With a labor pool in constant flux, it is even more important for businesses to put themselves on a footing that enables fast, effective, and safe hiring. Checking references, confirming education, and other steps all contribute to building your confidence. Still, you must also look for red flags in other areas—such as an individual's criminal record. Background checks offer in-depth insights into an individual's past that can help you to make more well-informed decisions. However, operating in such a large metro area has some special concerns. Your policy must factor these concerns into the equation.

Using background checks does come with an added layer of legal compliance. You should ensure that you have a written policy that defines the appropriate use and handling of background check information, and you should review relevant local laws. Once you've put in this initial effort, you can develop a vetting process that is fast, secure, and easy to repeat for every new applicant. Partnering with backgroundchecks.com makes that even easier, owing to our large number of educational resources and our rapid vetting solutions. What do you need to know about New Jersey regulations before you begin?

In New Jersey, employers must obey a statewide "ban the box" law. The goal of the law is to broaden opportunities for formerly incarcerated people. Since 2015, the state has barred employers from using criminal history questions on job applications. You may not use a background check or ask about criminal history until you've had at least one interview with the applicant. You cannot inquire into expunged convictions or consider them during hiring. The same is true for pardoned convictions. You cannot conduct online searches related to the candidate before interviewing them, and you may not use drug tests to detect marijuana usage.

Businesses across the state border in New York City must follow the rules specific to that region. This includes substantial Fair Chance regulations that control how and when employers use background checks. Regardless of your location, you must also follow FCRA requirements, including consent and disclosure.

With a policy written and defined, you can start selecting tools to use in your background check process. Many of our partners opt for a broad, nationwide look at the criminal records we compile and maintain from state and county sources nationwide. The US OneSEARCH is the best tool for that job; see our coverage map for this product to learn more.

In some states, not every county will make its records available to third-party consumer reporting agencies. Morris County is one such county. To order a background check on an individual for employment purposes here, you must ask the New Jersey State Police. It costs $20 to run a name-based check and $44.13 to order a fingerprint-based background check. For employers in New York City, the Office of Court Administration offers a multi-county background search of the surrounding area for $95.

Background reports sourced from county court records may include the subject's:

• Name
• Offense/Charge
• Sentence
• Disposition

Empower your business in Morris County to take advantage of the diverse labor pool of the New York metropolitan area with confidence and safety in mind.