Situated in the north-central parts of Kentucky, Jefferson County, one of the state’s oldest counties, was founded in 1780. Jefferson County, which has its county seat in Louisville, was named after Thomas Jefferson. The county has a population of over 780,000 residents and covers an approximate area of 1,031 square kilometers. Historically, Jefferson County's predominant industry was manufacturing, particularly agricultural goods and tobacco products.

Courts in Jefferson County

The Jefferson County trial court system includes Circuit and District Courts. The Circuit Court in Jefferson County has authority over all criminal and civil cases but typically only adjudicates cases beyond the scope of the District Court. The Circuit Court has a Family Court Division which handles paternity, adoption, and termination of parental rights lawsuits.

The District Court has limited authority over criminal and civil cases. They handle lesser criminal cases, including simple assaults and petty theft, to small claims with monetary value of up to $2,500.They also preside over traffic and municipal violations. The District Court has a Juvenile Division that presides over court cases involving minors and a Probate Court that administers deceased estates. Also, the Teen Court Division presides over lawsuits for minors aged 10-17 who are guilty of minor criminal offenses. The Drug Courts Division provides alternatives to incarceration for drug-related crimes.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Jefferson County

Public Court records are court documents accessible by the public in Jefferson County. The Clerk of the Circuit Court provides access to the Kentucky Court of Justice web tool to search for online public court records. Also, record seekers may visit the Clerk’s Office to view and obtain copies of the record in person. The Clerk also welcomes mail requests for public court records County.

Types of Public Court Records in Jefferson County

Jefferson County residents may inspect, view, or copy public court records. The following court records are open to the general public in Jefferson County:

• Family Court Records: They include divorce records and legal proceedings from child support lawsuits
• Probate Court Records: Public court records arising from the administration of a deceased estate, including trusts, wills, guardianships, and name change
• Criminal Court Records: They include felonies and misdemeanors such as drug trafficking, homicide, petty theft, and vandalism
• Civil Court Records: From disputes between individuals and organizations such as employment, contract, and landlord/tenant disputes

Confidential Court Records in Jefferson County

Confidential records are court records exempted from public access. Typically, they contain sensitive information where disclosure may threaten the safety or privacy of the persons named on the court document. Confidential court records are sealed by a court order or federal or state law. Only persons with a court order may view confidential court records. Confidential court records include:

• Grand jury proceedings
• Trade secrets
• Juvenile court records
• Mental health records
• Crime victims' information
• Adoption records

Likewise, personal information is confidential. Personally identifying information where disclosure may lead to identity theft or unwarranted invasion of privacy is redacted from public court records. Personal identifying information includes tax identification numbers, phone numbers, personal email addresses, medical records, Social Security numbers, and driver's license numbers.

Juvenile Delinquency in Jefferson, KY

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 Kentucky often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of crimes, and other family matters.

In 1997, a total of 644 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Jefferson County. Of that total, 0% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 1 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 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, KY

https://kentucky.gov/

County Seat:	Louisville
Government Type:	City-County Consolidation
Authority:	Home Rule
Year Organized:	1780
Total Square Miles:	398
2019 Population:	771,158
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	527 W Jefferson St Metro Hall Louisville , KY 40202-2814 https://louisvilleky.gov/

Jefferson County, KY Courts