Plainfield New Jersey Police Department Records, 1890-1948

The Plainfield, New Jersey Police Department records, spanning from 1890 to 1948, offer a unique window into the past, providing genealogists and historians alike with a bounty of information. These records, housed at the Plainfield Public Library, encompass a wide array of documents including arrest records, city court records, daily blotters, detective records, permit records, summons recordings, and general police logs. Despite the seemingly mundane nature of these documents, they are anything but. Each page, each entry, tells a story, contributing to the larger narrative of our shared history.

The real value of these records for genealogists lies in their ability to add depth to the understanding of our ancestors’ lives. Beyond mere names and dates, police records can reveal stories of hardship, conflict, and sometimes redemption. They provide context to an ancestor’s life, offering potential explanations for migrations, changes in fortune, or alterations in family structure.

The use of police records in genealogical research does come with its challenges. The condition of these records, as noted in the descriptions from the Plainfield Public Library, ranges from “Very Poor” to “Good,” which can affect readability and accessibility. Furthermore, the non-systematic numbering of the logbooks may complicate the search for specific entries. Despite these hurdles, the ongoing efforts to scan and digitize these records will undoubtedly make them more accessible to researchers worldwide.

Types of Ledgers: Police General Record Books, Police Daily Blotter, Police Daily Arrest Book, Police General Information Log, Detective’s & Reserve Men’s Reports, Detective Reports, Detective Bureau Records, City Court Record, Police Criminal Arrests, Police Automobile Arrests, Complaints, Daily Record, Permit Records, and Summons Recording.

Plainfield New Jersey City Court Record

Plainfield Police Department City Court (ledger) 12/22/31 — 4/23/1933. Log #79. 1108 pages. Condition: Fair. W(13 in.) x H(18 in.).

Plainfield New Jersey Police Complaints

Plainfield Police Department Complaints (ledger) 10/3/1916 — 2/22/1918. Log #145. 503 pages. Condition: Poor. W(12 in.) x H(16 in.).
Plainfield Police Department Complaints (ledger) 2/23/1918 — 1/26/1919. Log #142. 512 pages. Condition: Poor. W(12 in.) x H(16 in.).
Plainfield Police Department Complaints (ledger) 1/27/1919 — 1/21/1920. Log #87. 509 pages. Condition: Fair. W(12 in.) x H(16 in.).

Plainfield New Jersey Police Daily Record Reports

Plainfield New Jersey Police Detective Bureau Reports

Plainfield Police Department Detective Reports (ledger) 3/29/1911 — 8/7/1912. Log #225. 510 pages.
Plainfield Police Department Detective Bureau Records (ledger) 1/1/1929 — 11/30/1936. Log #119. 293 pages. Condition: Fair. W(12 in.) x H(16 in.).
Plainfield Police Department Detective’s Reports (ledger) 1/1/31 — 5/5/31. Log #45. 90 pages. Condition: Poor. W(12 in.) x H(16 in.).
Plainfield Police Department Detective’s Reports (ledger) 1/1/1931 — 2/23/1932. Log #43. 310 pages. Condition: Poor. W(12 in.) x H(16 in.).
Plainfield Police Department Detective’s Reports (ledger) 2/24/32 — 12/31/1932. Log #37. 410 pages. Condition: Fair. W(12 in.) x H(16 in.).
Plainfield Police Department Detective’s Reports (ledger) 9/23/1933 — 4/18/1934. Log #42. 510 pages. Condition: Poor. W(12 in.) x H(16 in.).

Plainfield New Jersey Police Detective’s & Reserve Men’s Reports

Plainfield Police Department Detectives and Reserve Mens Reports (ledger) 7/1/1931 — 7/4/1932. Log #50. 556 pages. Condition: Good. W(12 in.) x H(16 in.).

Plainfield New Jersey Police General Records

Plainfield New Jersey Police Automobile Arrests

Plainfield Police Department Automobile Arrests (ledger) 6/6/1931 — 12/31/1933. Log #174. 391 pages.

Plainfield New Jersey Police Arrests Records

Plainfield New Jersey Police Criminal Record

Plainfield Police Department Ledger: Criminal Record (ledger) October 30, 1900 to October 30, 1915. Has index. 93 pages. Log #290.
Plainfield Police Department Daily Arrest Book (ledger) 1/1/1902 — 12/23/1903. Log #9. 274 pages. Condition: Poor. W(12 in.) x H(16 in.) Leather cover. Sections needs repair, extensive cover damage, rebinding necessary.

Police New Jersey Police Daily Arrest Record

Plainfield New Jersey Police Daily Blotter

Plainfield New Jersey Police Permit Records

Plainfield Police Department Permit Record (ledger) 6/19/1935 — 10/16/1938. Log #55. 290 pages. Condition: Good. W(10 in.) x H(16 in.).

Plainfield New Jersey Police Summons Recording

Plainfield Police Department Summons Recording (ledger) 1/1/1930 — 5/10/1931. Log #289. 502 pages. Condition: Very Poor. W(12 in.) x H(16 in.). (listed as ppl_Police_Book289)
Plainfield Police Department Summons Recording (ledger) 1/6/1933 — 1/29/1934. Log #88. 226 pages. Condition: Good. W(12 in.) x H(16 in.).

Types of Information Contained Within Police Records

Personal Identifiers: Police records can include names, addresses, physical descriptions, and sometimes even photographs of individuals involved in incidents, providing a direct link to ancestors and offering clues to further research.
Criminal Records: Arrest logs, criminal complaints, and court records provide details about legal entanglements, offering insights into the social history of the time, including prevailing laws, societal norms, and the types of offenses deemed significant.
Daily Activities and Social Interactions: Daily blotters, summons recordings and general police logs offer a glimpse into the day-to-day activities and social dynamics of a community, shedding light on the environment in which ancestors lived.
Law Enforcement and Judicial Outcomes: Detective reports, arrest records, and city court records not only detail the crimes but also provide insights into the law enforcement practices and judicial proceedings of the era.

The real value of these records for genealogists lies in their ability to add depth to our understanding of ancestors’ lives. Beyond mere names and dates, police records can reveal stories of hardship, conflict, and sometimes redemption. They provide context to an ancestor’s life, offering potential explanations for migrations, changes in fortune, or alterations in family structure.

For example, an arrest record might explain a sudden disappearance from city directories or censuses, while permit records could indicate the operation of a family business. Summons recordings might reveal involvement in community issues or disputes, offering a richer portrayal of an ancestor’s character and concerns.

However, it’s important to approach these records with sensitivity and an understanding of the historical context. The legal norms and societal attitudes of the past were often vastly different from those of today. What might now seem a minor infraction could have been a serious matter in the past, and vice versa.

Navigating the Challenges

In conclusion, the Plainfield, New Jersey Police Department records offer a fascinating lens through which to view the past. For genealogists, they are not just a collection of names and dates but a portal to understanding the lives of those who came before us, warts and all. As these records continue to be digitized and made available online, they promise to become an even more invaluable resource for those seeking to connect with their ancestral past.

Topics:

Police Ledgers, Police Records,

Locations:

Plainfield New Jersey, Union County NJ,