# NJ Criminal Case Search (`reverberant_equality/nj-criminal-case-search`) Actor Searches the New Jersey Criminal Cases PROMIS/Gavel Public Access portal by defendant name and county. Automatically solves the image-based CAPTCHA using OCR and extracts case records including docket numbers, charges, dispositions, and case status. - **URL**: https://apify.com/reverberant\_equality/nj-criminal-case-search.md - **Developed by:** [Jordan C](https://apify.com/reverberant_equality) (community) - **Categories:** AI - **Stats:** 0 total users, 0 monthly users, 0.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing from $0.01 / 1,000 results This Actor is paid per event and usage. You are charged both the fixed price for specific events and for Apify platform usage. Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event ## What's an Apify Actor? Actors are a software tools running on the Apify platform, for all kinds of web data extraction and automation use cases. In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours, and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store. In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server. Actors are written with capital "A". ## How to integrate an Actor? If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects. You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready. The best way to integrate Actors is as follows. In JavaScript/TypeScript projects, use official [JavaScript/TypeScript client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js.md): ```bash npm install apify-client ``` In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python.md): ```bash pip install apify-client ``` In shell scripts, use [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): ````bash # MacOS / Linux curl -fsSL https://apify.com/install-cli.sh | bash # Windows irm https://apify.com/install-cli.ps1 | iex ```bash In AI frameworks, you might use the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/platform/integrations/mcp.md). If your project is in a different language, use the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md). For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below. For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt). # README ## NJ Criminal Case Search [![Apify Actor](https://img.shields.io/badge/Apify-Actor-blue)](https://apify.com/reverberant_equality/nj-criminal-case-search) Search the **New Jersey Criminal Cases PROMIS/Gavel Public Access Portal** — the official statewide database of criminal court records maintained by the New Jersey Judiciary. This Actor automatically navigates the disclaimer page, solves the image-based **CAPTCHA using OCR (Tesseract.js)**, submits search queries by defendant name and county, and extracts structured case records. --- ### Features - **CAPTCHA Solver** — Automatically reads and submits the image CAPTCHA using Tesseract.js OCR - **Search by Name** — Required last name, optional first name - **Filter by County** — Select from all 21 New Jersey counties or search statewide - **Results Extraction** — Parses case records including docket numbers, charges, disposition, status, and judge - **Pagination Support** — Follows multi-page results automatically - **Structured Output** — Clean JSON output to Apify dataset with typed fields - **Graceful Error Handling** — CAPTCHA retry logic, input validation, and abort handling --- ### Input Parameters | Field | Type | Required | Description | |-------|------|----------|-------------| | `lastName` | string | **Yes** | Defendant's last name (minimum 2 characters) | | `firstName` | string | No | Defendant's first name for narrower results | | `county` | select | No | New Jersey county to search (default: all) | | `proxyConfiguration` | proxy | No | Proxy configuration (residential proxy recommended) | --- ### Output Fields Each record in the dataset contains: | Field | Type | Description | |-------|------|-------------| | `docketNumber` | string | Unique docket number (e.g., `IND-2023-001234`) | | `defendantName` | string | Full name of the defendant | | `county` | string | NJ county where the case was filed | | `charges` | string | Criminal charge(s) | | `disposition` | string | Case outcome (Dismissed, Pled Guilty, Convicted, etc.) | | `dispositionDate` | string | Date of disposition | | `caseStatus` | string | Current status (Active, Closed, Pending, Disposed) | | `judge` | string | Presiding judge | | `searchUrl` | string | URL of the results page | | `scrapedAt` | string | Timestamp when scraped (ISO-8601) | --- ### Quick Start ```bash ## Install dependencies npm install ## Run locally (requires Apify token) apify run ## Or with specific input apify run --input '{ "lastName": "Smith", "firstName": "John", "county": "Essex" }' ```` ### Deploy to Apify ```bash apify login apify push ``` *** ### About the Portal The [New Jersey Criminal Cases PROMIS/Gavel Public Access Portal](https://portal.njcourts.gov/webe41/ExternalPGPA/) provides public access to criminal case information from all 21 New Jersey counties. The database includes cases entered by each county since their PROMIS/Gavel implementation date. **Note:** Certain records are confidential per New Jersey statutes and Rules of Court (juvenile cases, expunged cases, probation records, impounded cases) and are excluded from search results. *** ### Legal & Disclaimer This Actor accesses a public government database. Users are responsible for complying with the NJ Judiciary's Terms of Service and all applicable laws. The information obtained should not be considered a defendant's complete court history — official criminal histories are maintained by the New Jersey State Police. # Actor input Schema ## `lastName` (type: `string`): The defendant's last name to search for (required). Minimum 2 characters. ## `firstName` (type: `string`): The defendant's first name (optional). Leave empty to search by last name only. ## `county` (type: `string`): New Jersey county to search in. Leave empty or set to 'All' to search all counties. ## `proxyConfiguration` (type: `object`): Proxy settings for the search. Using Apify proxy with USA residency may help with access. ## Actor input object example ```json { "lastName": "Smith", "county": "", "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": true, "apifyProxyGroups": [ "RESIDENTIAL" ] } } ``` # Actor output Schema ## `dataset` (type: `string`): No description # API You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup. ## JavaScript example ```javascript import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client'; // Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token // Replace the '' with your token const client = new ApifyClient({ token: '', }); // Prepare Actor input const input = { "lastName": "Smith" }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("reverberant_equality/nj-criminal-case-search").call(input); // Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any) console.log('Results from dataset'); console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`); const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems(); items.forEach((item) => { console.dir(item); }); // 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs ``` ## Python example ```python from apify_client import ApifyClient # Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token # Replace '' with your token. client = ApifyClient("") # Prepare the Actor input run_input = { "lastName": "Smith" } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("reverberant_equality/nj-criminal-case-search").call(run_input=run_input) # Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any) print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"]) for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items(): print(item) # 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start ``` ## CLI example ```bash echo '{ "lastName": "Smith" }' | apify call reverberant_equality/nj-criminal-case-search --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=reverberant_equality/nj-criminal-case-search", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "NJ Criminal Case Search", "description": "Searches the New Jersey Criminal Cases PROMIS/Gavel Public Access portal by defendant name and county. Automatically solves the image-based CAPTCHA using OCR and extracts case records including docket numbers, charges, dispositions, and case status.", "version": "1.0", "x-build-id": "hVsbflFkVuSZgWSxn" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/reverberant_equality~nj-criminal-case-search/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-reverberant_equality-nj-criminal-case-search", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for its completion, and returns Actor's dataset items in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/reverberant_equality~nj-criminal-case-search/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-reverberant_equality-nj-criminal-case-search", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK", "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/reverberant_equality~nj-criminal-case-search/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-reverberant_equality-nj-criminal-case-search", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } } }, "components": { "schemas": { "inputSchema": { "type": "object", "required": [ "lastName" ], "properties": { "lastName": { "title": "Defendant Last Name", "minLength": 2, "type": "string", "description": "The defendant's last name to search for (required). Minimum 2 characters." }, "firstName": { "title": "Defendant First Name", "type": "string", "description": "The defendant's first name (optional). Leave empty to search by last name only." }, "county": { "title": "County", "enum": [ "", "Atlantic", "Bergen", "Burlington", "Camden", "Cape May", "Cumberland", "Essex", "Gloucester", "Hudson", "Hunterdon", "Mercer", "Middlesex", "Monmouth", "Morris", "Ocean", "Passaic", "Salem", "Somerset", "Sussex", "Union", "Warren" ], "type": "string", "description": "New Jersey county to search in. Leave empty or set to 'All' to search all counties.", "default": "" }, "proxyConfiguration": { "title": "Proxy Configuration", "type": "object", "description": "Proxy settings for the search. Using Apify proxy with USA residency may help with access.", "default": { "useApifyProxy": true, "apifyProxyGroups": [ "RESIDENTIAL" ] } } } }, "runsResponseSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "data": { "type": "object", "properties": { "id": { "type": "string" }, "actId": { "type": "string" }, "userId": { "type": "string" }, "startedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "finishedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "status": { "type": "string", "example": "READY" }, "meta": { "type": "object", "properties": { "origin": { "type": "string", "example": "API" }, "userAgent": { "type": "string" } } }, "stats": { "type": "object", "properties": { "inputBodyLen": { "type": "integer", "example": 2000 }, "rebootCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "restartCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "resurrectCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "computeUnits": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "options": { "type": "object", "properties": { "build": { "type": "string", "example": "latest" }, "timeoutSecs": { "type": "integer", "example": 300 }, "memoryMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 1024 }, "diskMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 2048 } } }, "buildId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultKeyValueStoreId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultDatasetId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultRequestQueueId": { "type": "string" }, "buildNumber": { "type": "string", "example": "1.0.0" }, "containerUrl": { "type": "string" }, "usage": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 1 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "usageTotalUsd": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "usageUsd": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } } } } } } } } } ```