Located in the central part of Alabama, Jefferson County, named after Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, was established in 1819. It has an estimated population of 660,000 residents, covers a land mass of about 2,911 square kilometers, and has its county seat in Birmingham. Historically, Jefferson County is known for its steel production and manufacturing industries.

Courts in Jefferson County

The court system in Jefferson County comprises Circuit Courts, District Courts, Probate Courts, and Municipal Courts. The Jefferson County Circuit Court has general jurisdiction over all types of cases. They handle criminal cases including most felony cases and civil cases where the amount in dispute is more than $10,000. The District Court in Jefferson County presides over less serious criminal cases, such as misdemeanors, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings for felony charges. It also handles small claims and civil cases where the amount in dispute does not exceed $20,000.

The Circuit and District Courts have a Family Court Division that hears matters involving children, including paternity, child custody, and child support cases. The Probate Court deals with matters related to the administration of deceased persons' estates, including wills, and guardianships of minors.  The Municipal Courts in Jefferson County presides over matters involving violations of city ordinances, such as traffic tickets, misdemeanors punishable by fines, and other minor offenses occurring within the city.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Jefferson County

Public court records are the documents, papers, and reports maintained by the courts that are publicly available. Persons interested in viewing or copying public court records in Jefferson County may utilize the Just One Look portal, provided by Alabama Courts, to look up court records filed and heard in the county. Furthermore, record seekers may visit the courthouses to view and obtain public court records or mail written requests for the documents.

Types of Public Court Records in Jefferson County

The courts grant the public access to the following types of court records in Jefferson County:

• Civil Court Records: Civil disputes such as contract breaches, mergers and acquisition disputes, injunctions, and class action lawsuits
• Criminal Court Records: Felonies, misdemeanors, and felony preliminary hearings records
• Probate Records: Wills, trusts, name change, and guardianships
• Traffic Court Records: Speeding tickets, citations, driving under the influence cases, and reckless driving cases
• Family Court Records: Marriage dissolutions, annulments, spousal and child support, and child custody cases

Confidential Court Records in Jefferson County

Confidential court records are documents and papers from the courts that are exempted from public viewing or copying. Confidential court records contain private or sensitive information that may threaten the safety or privacy of the person named on the court papers if made public. Confidential records are sealed by court orders or federal or state laws, and only persons authorized by the courts may view the records. Confidential court records in Jefferson County include:

• Juvenile court records
• Adoption records
• Grand jury proceedings
• Drug/alcohol treatment information
• Medical and mental health records

Likewise, personal information contained in public court records is excluded from the public. The court redacts personal identifiers from court records to protect the individuals named on the court document from fraud or identity theft. Personal identifying information excluded from court records includes:

• Birth dates
• Social Security numbers
• Home and personal email addresses
• Tax identification numbers
• Driver’s license numbers

Juvenile Delinquency in Jefferson, AL

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Jefferson County, juvenile delinquency issues are on the rise. There are many reasons for the rise in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Alabama often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of crimes, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 1512 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Jefferson County. Of that total, 48% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 728 court cases. Another 22% were dependency cases that accounted for 328 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Jefferson County, are focusing on family therapy and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Jefferson County juvenile delinquency numbers will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Jefferson County, AL

http://www.alabama.gov/

County Seat:	Birmingham
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1819
Total Square Miles:	1,124
2019 Population:	659,197
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	716 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd North County Courthouse Birmingham , AL 35203-0100 http://jeffconline.jccal.org/

Jefferson County, AL Courts