Jackson County is located in the southeastern part of Mississippi and has a population of over 140,000. It was founded in 1812 and has its seat of government in Pascagoula.

Courts in Jackson County

There are six courts in Jackson County. These courts include the Circuit Court, Chancery Court, County Court, Youth Court, and Justice Court.

The Circuit Court has general jurisdiction over most criminal and civil cases in the county. It hears criminal cases related to bastardy, felonies, and some misdemeanors. It also hears civil actions where the amount in dispute exceeds $75,000.

Chancery Courts in Jackson County hear cases related to the commitments of the mentally disabled, domestic and family matters such as divorce and child custody, and probate matters. The court also hears cases relating to titles to land and appeals from the County Court.

The County Court hears appeals on civil actions from the Justice Court where the claim exceeds $3,500 but is less than $200,000. The court also hears criminal appeals from all municipal courts and cases related to felony preliminary hearings and misdemeanors. The County Court has a Youth Court Division that hears cases related to persons under 18. Such cases include juvenile delinquency cases, children in need of supervision cases, and neglected or abused child cases.

The Justice Court hears civil actions with claims under $3,500. It also hears criminal cases involving misdemeanors and felony preliminaries. 

The Municipal Courts hear certain types of criminal cases, some of which include misbehaviors and traffic offenses.

Where to find Public Court Records in Jackson County

Court records are made available to the public in Jackson County through the offices of the clerks of the different courts. Interested persons can access the court records by visiting the clerks' offices in person. 

Types of Public Court Records in Jackson County

Unless restricted by court order or provisions of statute, Jackson County makes the following records accessible to the public:

• Records of Arrest
• Divorce Records
• Court Transcripts
• Civil Case Pleadings
• Court Judgment and Orders

Confidential Court Records in Jackson County

Certain records are deemed confidential, and the court restricts public access to them. Some examples of confidential court records include:

• Tax Records
• Medical Records
• Child Abuse and Neglect Records
• Adoption Records
• Domestic Violence Victim Records.

Juvenile Delinquency in Jackson, MS

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

In 2017, a total of 539 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Jackson County. Of that total, 84% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 453 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Jackson County, MS

https://www.ms.gov/

County Seat:	Pascagoula
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Home Rule
Year Organized:	1812
Total Square Miles:	1,043
2019 Population:	142,152
Persons/Square Mile:	0.01
County Contact:	PO BOX 998 County Courthouse Pascagoula , MS 39568-0998 https://www.co.jackson.ms.us/

Jackson County, MS Courts