Henry County, Georgia, was established in 1821 from land acquired by the Creek Indians and is named after Revolutionary War great Patrick Henry. The county seat is McDonough City, which is part of the Atlanta Metropolitan Area. Records from the 2020 U.S. census reveal that the county has a land area of 318.71 square miles and a population of 240,712 residents.

Courts in Henry County

Henry County has a Superior Court, State Court, Juvenile Court, Probate Court, Magistrate Court, and Municipal Courts. The Superior Court exercises broad jurisdiction over felony criminal cases and civil actions and hears appeals from lower courts of the circuit.

The State Court has the authority to try misdemeanor criminal cases, including criminal trespass, traffic offenses, DUIs, simple battery, and city ordinance violations. In addition, the State Court handles civil matters such as serious personal injury, wrongful death, breach of contract, product liability, and medical and legal malpractice.

As part of its court system, Henry County has a Juvenile Court that hears cases of children under the age of 17. This court's programs aim to provide resources to families and youth to enable them to reach their desired potential.

The Probate Court in Henry County handles cases involving estates, guardianships, issuance of marriage licenses, gun permits, involuntary commitment, and involuntary treatments for drugs and alcohol.

The Magistrate Court has limited jurisdiction and hears civil claims involving $15,000 or less. The court also handles other matters, including garnishments, foreclosures, issuance of arrest warrants, prosecution of misdemeanor deposit account fraud, and county ordinance violations.

Finally, there are four municipal courts in Henry County. They exercise jurisdiction over misdemeanor shoplifting, ordinance violations, possession of marijuana, issuance of criminal warrants, and conducting preliminary hearings.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Henry County

The Henry County Clerk of the Superior Court is responsible for keeping all books, papers, and records of the court. The Office of the Clerk maintains an electronic case management system that makes it easier for residents to access court records. Anyone may also visit the State Court web portal to access court records or request regular and certified copies via email. In addition, the Henry County Probate Court maintains an online public records system that residents can use to search for and view newer estate cases. The Probate Court also houses a Records Room where members of the public can research and make copies of any documents. Other courts, such as the Juvenile Court, Magistrate Court, and Municipal Courts, also have their respective records available online or physically at the courthouse.

Types of Public Court Records in Henry County

Henry County court records consist of the files and documents generated during court proceedings. They are usually open to the public unless restricted by state or federal law or court order. Examples include:

• Docket sheets
• Transcripts
• Court notices
• Court judgments
• Case index

Confidential Court Records in Henry County

In Henry County, some court records are deemed confidential and are therefore not accessible to the public. Examples of such records include:

• Juvenile court records
• Adoption records
• Records sealed by an order of court
• Records containing sensitive information, such as mental health records and trade secrets.

Juvenile Delinquency in Henry, GA

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

In 2017, a total of 991 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Henry County. Of that total, 69% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 688 court cases. Another 14% were dependency cases that accounted for 138 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Henry County, GA

https://georgia.gov/

County Seat:	McDonough
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Home Rule
Year Organized:	1821
Total Square Miles:	327
2019 Population:	225,813
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00

Henry County, GA Courts