SORA Information
Effective October 1, 2024, the Private Detective Unit of the New Jersey State Police will discontinue the 30-day temporary certificate of registration. Applicants will have a 30-day period to complete the necessary requirements, including fingerprinting and completion of the security officer training course. However, it is important to note that applicants are not permitted to be employed as security officers until the entire process has been completed and officially approved by the Private Detective Unit.
Effective November 1, 2023, the New Jersey State Police - Private Detective Unit will be eliminating the Security Officer Registration Act (SORA) hard plastic identification card and will be replacing it with an Electronic SORA ID (E-SORA). Please see the attached memo and instructions for additional information.
Due to the recent rollout of E-SORA, we are experiencing a high volume of calls. For assistance, please contact us at (609) 341-3426 / (609) 633-9352
or email: PDU@njsp.gov for general inquiries and PDUPrints@njsp.gov for fingerprint inquiries and someone will respond in a timely matter.
Office Hours of Operation
M-F/ 8A-4P
2025 SORA Instructor Information: The NJSP – Private Detective Unit will be opening and accepting applications for SORA Instructor certification starting December 1, 2024 – January 17, 2025. Please review the requirements before applying 2025 SORA Instructor Requirements. Once successfully completing the application process and background investigation, applicants will be invited to a 4 day / 40-hour SORA Instructor course tentatively scheduled for April 28, 2025, to May 1, 2025, in Hamilton, NJ. For additional information, please contact the following:
- Detective I Dean Sauchelli #7687 at Dean.Sauchelli@njsp.gov
- Detective II Luke Morgan #7902 at Luke.Morgan@njsp.gov
- Trooper Christian Fata #8155 at Christian.Fata@njsp.gov
Marijuana Decriminalization Information: The Security Officer Registration Act (PDF) and SORA Rules & Regs (PDF) have NOT been updated and/or amended to reflect the current marijuana laws in NJ as it relates to disqualifying drug offenses, specifically, marijuana. Please review the Attorney General’s Directive 2021-1: Directive Governing Dismissals of Certain Pending Marijuana Charges (PDF) and Interim Guidance Regarding Marijuana Decriminalization. (PDF) *It should be noted that the NJSP - Private Detective Unit does NOT provide legal advice and further inquiry regarding specific drug offenses should be directed to a legal representative. For additional information, please contact PDU at pdu@njsp.org.
*SORA Instructors - See Virtual Training Checklist (PDF)
*The Temporary Certification to stand post for INITIAL Security Officer (Armed/Unarmed) applicant’s will revert back to the original 30 day time period immediately following this posting.
New Jersey State Police
Private Detective Unit
P.O. Box 7068
West Trenton, New Jersey 08628-0068
Security Officer Information
- Security Officer Help Page
- Security Officer Registration Act (SORA) (PDF)
- Security Officer Rules and Regulations (PDF)
- Santiago’s Law (PDF)
Security Agency Owner
- Security Agency Owner Help Page
- Security Agency Bond (PDF)
- Security Agency Statement (PDF)
- Security Agency HR Functions
- Security Agency Renewal Instructions (PDF)
Bounty Hunter Information
- Bounty Hunter Help Page
- Bounty Hunter Licensing Act (PDF)
- Bounty Hunter Rules and Regulations (PDF)
- Bail Bond Agent Clarification (PDF)
SORA Instructor Information
Business Registration
Private Detective Agencies can file online at:
https://www.state.nj.us/njbusiness/registration/
Application Section
- Security Officer Application
- Security Agency Owner Application
- Bounty Hunter Application
- Security Instructor Application
As a matter of information, the New Jersey State Police Private Detective Unit, on behalf of the Superintendent of the State Police, is the regulating authority for the private security industry in this state.
Updates/News
01/01/19Armed Security Officer FAQ (PDF)
06/03/16
SORA Troubleshooting (PDF)
04/27/16
Santiago’s Law (PDF)
