Home to Florida State University (FSU) and Florida A&M University (FAMU), Leon County is located in the Northwest area of Florida. Named after Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon, Leon County has a population of over 299,000 residents and covers an area of 702 square miles. Established in 1824, Leon County's seat of government is in Tallahassee, Florida’s state capital.

Courts in Leon County

The Judicial structure for Leon County courts comprises Circuit and County Courts. The Leon County Circuit Court has general jurisdiction over criminal and civil cases, including felonies, civil claims for disputes above $15,000, and landlord-tenant and property disputes. The Circuit Court presides over family law cases, such as child custody and divorce, and juvenile matters, such as delinquencies and adoptions. The court has a Probate and Traffic Division. The Probate Court hears cases involving decedent estates, such as wills and guardianship of minors. The Traffic Division presides over criminal traffic infractions such as driving under the influence and traffic violations.

The County Court in Leon County hears lawsuits involving misdemeanors, small claims for disputes below $8,000, municipal and county ordinance violations, and civil disputes for claims up to $50,000. The court also presides over non-monetary civil matters such as injunction relief and specific performance.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Leon County

Public court records are judicial documents publicly available to Leon County residents. Except for cases that are confidential and restricted from public view,  all court records in Leon County are available online through the Court Search platform. Record seekers may also visit the Clerk of the District or County Courts to use the self-service terminals at the courthouses to view and print copies of public court records. The office also permits mail requests to obtain the documents.

Types of Public Court Records in Leon County

Access to public court records promotes accountability, confidence, and trust in the county’s judicial system. The following court records are open for viewing and copying in Leon County:

• Criminal Court Records: Felonies and misdemeanors
• Civil Court Records: Personal injury claims, breach of contract, property disputes, evictions, and restraining orders
• Family Court Records: Divorce, legal separation, child visitation, child support, and alimony
• Probate Records: Estates, wills, conservatorships, guardianships, and trusts
• Traffic Records: Illegal parking, reckless driving, speeding tickets, red light violations, and school zone violations

Confidential Court Records in Leon County

Confidential court records in Leon County refer to documents from the courts containing private and sensitive information that are restricted from the public. Confidential court records are sealed by the courts or by federal or state laws. Some confidential court records in the county include:

• Juvenile court records
• Adoption records
• Mental health commitment records
• Grand jury proceedings
• Trade secrets

Confidential records also include personal data on a court document. Personal identifiers contain information that uniquely identifies a person and is redacted from court documents to prevent misuse of personal data and fraudulent practices. Personal identifying information restricted from the public include:

• Social Security numbers
• Health insurance identification numbers
• Driver’s license numbers
• Financial account information
• Medical records

Juvenile Delinquency in Leon, FL

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Leon County, juvenile delinquency offenses are on the rise. There are many reasons for the inflation in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Florida often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of charges, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 970 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Leon County. Of that total, 100% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 970 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Leon County, FL

https://www.myflorida.com/

County Seat:	Tallahassee
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Home Rule
Year Organized:	1824
Total Square Miles:	702
2019 Population:	290,292
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00

Leon County, FL Courts