Established in 1821, Pike County, named in honor of General Zebulon Pike, is located in the eastern coalfields of Kentucky. Pike County is the largest county by land area in Kentucky, covering an area of about 789 square miles. Home to over 58,000 people, Pike County, known for its coal mining industry, has its county seat in Pikeville City.

Courts in Pike County

Pike County judiciary is structured to handle all legal cases through its Circuit and District Courts. Pike County Circuit Court has jurisdiction over all criminal and civil cases and hears appeals from the lower courts. The Circuit Court comprises of the following divisions:

• Criminal Division: Handles felonies and misdemeanor cases, such as
• Civil Division: Deals with civil disputes for claims below $5,000, land disputes, injunctions, and writs of prohibition
• Family Court Division: Presides over marriage dissolution, child visitation, distribution of marital assets, termination of parental rights, and domestic violence and abuse cases.

The Pike County District Court has limited jurisdiction over criminal and civil cases. It presides over misdemeanors, traffic violations, and civil disputes for claims below $5,000. The District Court has the following Divisions:

• Small Claims Division: Adjudicates civil disputes for claims under $2,500
• Juvenile Division: Presides over child abuse and child neglect cases, juvenile delinquency, foster care placement, runaways, and emancipation cases
• Probate Division: Handles uncontested probate matters, such as guardianship of minors, uncontested probate matters, and conservatorships.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Pike County

Public court records are documents from the courts available to the public. All public court records in Pike County are available online through KYeCourts. Record seekers may also visit the courthouses to view and obtain copies of the records or mail requests for the documents.

Types of Public Court Records in Pike County

Access to public court records helps the public see if the judiciary administers justice fairly and impartially, fostering public confidence in the county’s legal process. The following court documents are open to the public in Pike County:

• Civil Court Records: Personal injury claims, evictions, malpractice cases, product liability, and employment disputes
• Criminal Court Records: Misdemeanors, such as vandalism and public intoxication. Felonies, including aggravated assaults and homicide
• Family Law Records: Marriage dissolution, annulment, legal separation, child custody, and child and spousal support
• Traffic Records: Speeding tickets, red light violations, stop sign violations, hit and run, and driving without insurance
• Probate Records: Estate, wills, guardianships, trusts, and conservatorships

Confidential Court Records in Pike County

Confidential court records in Pike County refer to court documents and information excluded from public access.  Confidential court records are sealed to protect the safety of the persons named on the court document and comply with state and federal laws. The following court records are restricted from public view in Pike County:

• Juvenile court records
• Mental health records
• Substance abuse treatment records
• Crime victims' information
• Adoption records

Similarly, public court records contain personally identifiable data that is confidential by law. Personal identifiers are redacted from public court records in Pike County to prevent misuse of personal information. Personal identifiers removed from public court documents include:

• Home and personal email addresses
• Financial account information
• Tax identification numbers,
• Health insurance identification numbers
• Social Security numbers.

Juvenile Delinquency in Pike, KY

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Pike 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 582 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Pike County. Of that total, 77% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 446 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Pike County, KY

https://kentucky.gov/

County Seat:	Pikeville
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1822
Total Square Miles:	789
2019 Population:	58,883
Persons/Square Mile:	0.01
County Contact:	146 Main St County Courthouse Pikeville , KY 41501-1180 http://www.pikecountyky.gov/

Pike County, KY Courts