Washtenaw County is located in Michigan. At the 2020 census, the county was estimated to have a population of 372,258 people. Home to 27 cities, the county covers 720 square miles and has its seat in Ann Arbor, the largest city.
Courts in Washtenaw County
Washtenaw County is home to two courts namely Circuit Courts and District Courts.
Circuit Courts in Washtenaw County enjoy general jurisdiction on both criminal and civil cases. The circuit Courts examine lesser-included offenses and felonies. The court also hears civil cases, including general cases that have over $25,000 being disputed. These cases include appeals of administrative agency decisions, juvenile cases, equity cases, and domestic relations.
Additionally, each Circuit Court features its own Family Division, which examines juvenile and domestic relations cases. The Family Division looks over cases such as paternity, abuse prevention, adoption, child protection, and name changes.
District Courts are limited in their jurisdiction over specific criminal and civil cases. The criminal cases examined by the various District Courts are preliminary felony hearings, nearly all traffic violations, and juvenile delinquency cases. The civil cases overseen by the District Courts are generally landlord-tenant disputes, and most civil cases with values of less than $25,000 are considered in dispute.
The District Court also features a special Small Claims Division meant for civil cases worth less than $5,000.
Where to Find Public Court Records in Washtenaw County
Court records in Washtenaw County are public records unless they are restricted because of a Local Administrative Order, Court Rule, or Statute. To access public court records in the County, interested persons may view the records in person by going to the Washtenaw County Clerk of the Court's main office.
Alternatively, interested persons can submit a records request form to the office by mail. Mail requests are usually processed within ten days.
Types of Public Court Records in Washtenaw County
The following types of court records are publicly available in Washtenaw County:
- Criminal Records
- Civil Records
- Record of Appeals
- Probate Records
- Small Claims Records
Confidential Court Records in Washtenaw County
Although court records are generally publicly available, confidential court records are restricted and only accessible to parties to the case and their attornies. Some of these confidential records include:
- Medical Records
- Adoption Records
- Mental Health Records
- Juvenile Records
- Protection from Abuse Orders
Juvenile Delinquency in Washtenaw, MI
Unfortunately, in many areas of the Washtenaw County, juvenile delinquency crimes are on the rise. There are many reasons for the increase in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Michigan often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of offenses, and other family matters.
In 2017, a total of 702 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Washtenaw County. Of that total, 79% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 554 court cases. Another 21% were dependency cases that accounted for 148 of the juvenile cases.
A lot of counties, including, Washtenaw County, are focusing on family health and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Washtenaw County juvenile delinquency statistics will show whether or not this approach is working.
| Juvenile Cases | Number of cases |
|---|---|
| Delinquency | 1,208 |
| Dependency | 2,592 |
| Status | 1,212 |
Government of Washtenaw County, MI
| County Seat: | Ann Arbor |
| Government Type: | County |
| Authority: | Dillon's Rule |
| Year Organized: | 1826 |
| Total Square Miles: | 722 |
| 2019 Population: | 367,627 |
| Persons/Square Mile: | 0.00 |
| County Contact: | 220 N. Main, PO Box 8645
County Courthouse Ann Arbor , MI 48104-8645 http://www.ewashtenaw.org |