The Union County Sheriff’s Office is one of the largest law enforcement agencies in Union County. We are proud to provide unique law enforcement services to our community.
We strive to ensure a safe and secure environment for visitors and employees at the Courthouse Complex in Elizabeth and at several other locations throughout our county.
The Sheriff’s Office assists the Department of Homeland Security, the Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Domestic Violence Joint Task Force, and the United States Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force. Our Investigations Unit assists local law enforcement agencies in addressing quality-of-life issues affecting certain communities within our jurisdiction. The unit fosters relationships and trust within the community, provides security at community events, and apprehends violent offenders operating in targeted areas associated with violent crime. Furthermore, the unit conducts criminal investigations concerning violations of New Jersey criminal laws. Members of the unit also ensure the safety of our courts and enforce their rulings by apprehending individuals who evade justice. The unit tirelessly apprehends the most violent fugitives across jurisdictional and state boundaries, ensuring their safe return to face charges in Union County.
Our Crime Scene Unit responds to and processes all homicide and police-involved shooting investigations in Union County. The CSU processes all types of crime scene investigations upon the request of any law enforcement agency in Union County. These crime scenes include, but are not limited to: death investigations, shootings, assaults, burglaries, motor vehicle accidents, vehicle thefts, sexual assaults, search warrants, etc. The Crime Scene Unit is comprised of highly educated and thoroughly trained Crime Scene Investigators who specialize in forensic investigations.
Our Sheriff’s Labor Assistance Program (SLAP) is an alternative to incarceration for persons sentenced by Municipal or Superior Court Judges.
Our Transportation Unit facilitates the safe transport of prisoners between correctional institutions, area hospitals, psychiatric facilities, and other County or municipal courts.
Our Search and Rescue Unit has maintained its status as a premier regional Police Canine Training Center and administers the Project Lifesaver program, which assists in locating lost or wandering individuals who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia disorders, such as Down syndrome and autism spectrum disorder. The K-9 Unit provides coverage to all 21 municipalities in Union County and provides mutual aid to any other canine unit or police department in the State of New Jersey.
Our professional standards/training unit commits to maintaining the integrity, accountability, and public confidence of the Union County Sheriff’s Office by ensuring that all personnel comply with the highest standards of professional conduct. Sheriff’s Officers deliver instructional training to recruits and facilitate in-service training at the John H. Stamler Police Academy. Furthermore, they oversee the annual operations of the Sheriff’s Office Youth Academy.
The Union County Sheriff’s Office also operates our Family Violence Unit, the first of its kind in the State of New Jersey. Members of this unit are carefully selected and receive specialized training in conflict resolution, family dynamics, and domestic violence laws. The primary responsibility of the Family Violence Unit is to serve Temporary Restraining Orders on domestic violence defendants. The unit also investigates and apprehends defendants subject to Family Court warrants. These warrants include child support violations, violations of restraining orders, and other court order violations.
Our Legal Process Unit manages Foreclosure Sales and serves court orders, summonses, and complaints, notices of motions, orders to show cause, writs of attachment, levies, wage garnishments, and other special garnishments. The Sheriff’s Office remains active with Foreclosure Task Force Committees to raise awareness of the many programs available to those facing foreclosure.
Our Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI) is the central repository for all records and files of criminal defendants within Union County. The BCI collects and stores a range of information, including fingerprints, pedigree information, and photographs, to positively identify criminal defendants and all individuals under investigation. BCI provides professional services to all law enforcement agencies, from local to state and federal.