What is a criminal investigatory file?
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1 defines a criminal investigatory file as follows: any record not required by law to be made, maintained or kept on file that is held by a law enforcement agency which pertains to any criminal investigation or related civil enforcement proceeding. Police reports concerning an investigation into a criminal offense are considered part of the criminal investigatory file regardless of whether charges are actually signed.